Abstract
Customs Union established between Turkey and the European Union EU in 1995 has not only been an important phase of economic integration, but it was also portrayed by Turkey as a significant step on the way to membership. Besides its economic and commercial dimensions, Customs Union brought about serious political implications. Since the process was perceived as part of the “Westernization” story of the country, it has caused immense internal political debate. Meanwhile, the EU brought to fore its “democratic conditionality” by asking from Turkey to undertake major political reforms in return of approving the Customs Union decision. The study gives background information of the period and lists the legal amendments made with regard to political issues. The effectiveness of EU’s democratic conditionality is analyzed in order to identify the influence of the Customs Union process on Turkey’s political reform process. The paper shows that as a result of EU’s pressure certain amendments have been made regarding democratization and freedom of expression. Yet, because of the lack of a consistent and objective strategy, EU’s leverage in the political reform process has been limited during this period.
References
- Hans Agné, “European Union Conditionality: Coercion or Voluntary Adaptation”, Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, Volume 8, Number 1, Spring, 2009.
- Hakkı Arıkan, “A Lost Opportunity? A Critique of the EU’s Human Rights Policy Towards Turkey”, Mediterranean Politics, Vol.7, No.1, 2002.
- Mehmet Ali Birand, Türkiye’nin Avrupa Macerası: 1959-1999, Doğan Kitapçılık, İstanbul, 2000.
- Council of the European Union, Accession Negotiations with Turkey: Negotiating Framework, 12823/1/05 REV 1, 2005.
- İhsan Dağı, “İnsan Hakları ve Demokratikleşme: Türkiye-Avrupa Birliği İlişkilerinde Siyasal Boyut”, Eralp, Atila (der.), Türkiye ve Avrupa, İmge Kitabevi, Ankara, 1997.
- Erdem Denk (ed.), Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkilerinin 50 Yılı (1959-2009), ATAUM, 2011.
- European Commission, 1995a, Communication from the Commission on the Inclusion of Respect for Democratic Principles and Human Rights in Agreements Between the Community and Third Countries, Com (95) 216, 23.5.1995.
- European Commission, 1995b, Proposal for a Council regulation regarding the implementation of a special financial cooperation measure for Turkey, Official Journal C 271/12, 17.101995.
- European Parliament, 1994, Resolution on the trial of members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly”, Official Journal C305/95, 31.10.1994.
- European Parliament, 1995a, Resolution on the trial of Turkish members of Kurdish origin of the Turkish Grand National Assembly”, Official Journal C18/177, 23.1.1995.
- European Parliament, 1995b, Resolution on the draft agreement on the conclusion of a customs union between the EU and Turkey, Official Journal C 56/99, 6.3.1995.
- European Parliament, 1996a, Resolution on the human rights situation in Turkey, Official Journal C 17/46, 22.1.1996.
- European Parliament, 1996b, Resolution on the political situation in Turkey, Official Journal C 320/187, 28.10.1996. Dimitry Kochenov, EU Enlargement and the Failure of Conditionality: Pre- accession Conditionality in the Fields of Democracy and the Rule of Law, Wolters Kluwer, 2008.
- Heinz Kramer, “The EU-Turkey Customs Union: Economic Integration amidst Political Turmoil”, Mediterranean Politics, Vol.1 No.1 (Summer 1996).
- Stefan Krauss, “The European Parliament in EU External Relations: The Customs Union with Turkey”, European Foreign Affairs Review, 5:215-237, 2000.
- Burhan Kuzu, “Düşünceyi Açıklama Hürriyeti ve Ülkenin Bölünmez Bütünlüğü (TMK Md.8)”, 21. Asra Girerken Çağdaşlaşma, Demokrasi ve İnsan Hakları, Aydınlar Ocağı Yayını, 1996.
- Geoffrey Pridham, “The Politics of the European Community, Transnational Networks and Democratic Transition in Southern Europe”, Pridham, Geoffrey (ed.), Encouraging Democracy: The Internaional Context of Regime Transitions in Southern Europe, Leicester University Press, 1991. Geoffrey Pridham, “Change and Continuity in the European Union’s Political Conditionality: Aims, Approach and Priorities”, Democratization,14(3), 2007.
- “Türk Halkının AB’ye Bakışı Araştırması” (TAVAK), Türkiye-Avrupa Eğitim ve Bilimsel Araştırmalar Vakfı, Ağustos 2012.
- Mümtaz Soysal, 100 Soruda Anayasanın Anlamı, , Gerçek Yayınevi, Gözden Geçirilmiş 10. Baskı, 1995.
- İlhan Tekeli ve Selim İlkin, Türkiye ve Avrupa Birliği: Ulus Devleti Aşma Çabasındaki Avrupa’ya Türkiye’nin Yaklaşımı, Ümit Yayıncılık, 2000.
- Jolanda Westerling, “Conditionality and EU Membership: The Cases of Turkey and Cyprus”, European Foreign Affairs Review, 5:95-118, 2000.
- Usul, Ali Resul, Democracy in Turkey: The Impact of EU Political Conditionality, Routledge, 2011.
- Flavia Zanon, “The European Parliament: An autonomous foreign policy identity?”, Esther Barbé ve Anna Herranz, The Role of Parliaments in European Foreign Policy, Barcelona Office of the European Parliament, 2005.
- Piotr Zelowski, “Sticks, carrots and great expectations: Human rights conditionality and Turkey’s path towards membership of the European Union”, Center for International Relations, Warsaw, 09/04.
Abstract
Türkiye ile Avrupa Birliği AB arasında 1995 yılında tesis edilen Gümrük Birliği önemli bir ekonomik bütünleşme aşaması olmak dışında Türkiye tarafından üyelik yolunda atılmış önemli bir adım olarak kabul edilmiştir. Gümrük Birliği, sadece ticari ve ekonomik boyutuyla değil siyasi yansımaları bakımından da ses getiren bir süreç olmuştur. Bu süreç bir yandan Türkiye’nin “batılılaşma” yolculuğunda bir aşama olarak değerlendirildiğinden iç siyasette büyük tartışmalara konu olmuş, öte yandan AB, Gümrük Birliği’nin onaylanması için Türkiye’den talep ettiği siyasi reformlarla “demokratik koşulluluk” işlevini harekete geçirmiştir. Çalışmada, öncelikle dönemin arka planı ele alınmakta, Türkiye’de gerçekleştirilen yasal düzenlemelere değinilmektedir. Bu düzenlemelerde AB’nin koşulluluğunun etkinliği irdelenerek, Gümrük değerlendirilmektedir. Makale, bu dönemde AB’nin bastırmasıyla demokratikleşme ve ifade özgürlüğüne ilişkin bir takım yasal düzenlemeler gerçekleştirildiğini teslim etmekle beraber, tutarlı ve objektif bir strateji belirlenmediğinden AB’nin Türkiye’deki siyasi reform sürecine yönelik politikasının Türkiye’nin siyasi dönüşüm sürecindeki etkisinin sınırlı kaldığını tespit etmektedir
References
- Hans Agné, “European Union Conditionality: Coercion or Voluntary Adaptation”, Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, Volume 8, Number 1, Spring, 2009.
- Hakkı Arıkan, “A Lost Opportunity? A Critique of the EU’s Human Rights Policy Towards Turkey”, Mediterranean Politics, Vol.7, No.1, 2002.
- Mehmet Ali Birand, Türkiye’nin Avrupa Macerası: 1959-1999, Doğan Kitapçılık, İstanbul, 2000.
- Council of the European Union, Accession Negotiations with Turkey: Negotiating Framework, 12823/1/05 REV 1, 2005.
- İhsan Dağı, “İnsan Hakları ve Demokratikleşme: Türkiye-Avrupa Birliği İlişkilerinde Siyasal Boyut”, Eralp, Atila (der.), Türkiye ve Avrupa, İmge Kitabevi, Ankara, 1997.
- Erdem Denk (ed.), Basında Türkiye-AB İlişkilerinin 50 Yılı (1959-2009), ATAUM, 2011.
- European Commission, 1995a, Communication from the Commission on the Inclusion of Respect for Democratic Principles and Human Rights in Agreements Between the Community and Third Countries, Com (95) 216, 23.5.1995.
- European Commission, 1995b, Proposal for a Council regulation regarding the implementation of a special financial cooperation measure for Turkey, Official Journal C 271/12, 17.101995.
- European Parliament, 1994, Resolution on the trial of members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly”, Official Journal C305/95, 31.10.1994.
- European Parliament, 1995a, Resolution on the trial of Turkish members of Kurdish origin of the Turkish Grand National Assembly”, Official Journal C18/177, 23.1.1995.
- European Parliament, 1995b, Resolution on the draft agreement on the conclusion of a customs union between the EU and Turkey, Official Journal C 56/99, 6.3.1995.
- European Parliament, 1996a, Resolution on the human rights situation in Turkey, Official Journal C 17/46, 22.1.1996.
- European Parliament, 1996b, Resolution on the political situation in Turkey, Official Journal C 320/187, 28.10.1996. Dimitry Kochenov, EU Enlargement and the Failure of Conditionality: Pre- accession Conditionality in the Fields of Democracy and the Rule of Law, Wolters Kluwer, 2008.
- Heinz Kramer, “The EU-Turkey Customs Union: Economic Integration amidst Political Turmoil”, Mediterranean Politics, Vol.1 No.1 (Summer 1996).
- Stefan Krauss, “The European Parliament in EU External Relations: The Customs Union with Turkey”, European Foreign Affairs Review, 5:215-237, 2000.
- Burhan Kuzu, “Düşünceyi Açıklama Hürriyeti ve Ülkenin Bölünmez Bütünlüğü (TMK Md.8)”, 21. Asra Girerken Çağdaşlaşma, Demokrasi ve İnsan Hakları, Aydınlar Ocağı Yayını, 1996.
- Geoffrey Pridham, “The Politics of the European Community, Transnational Networks and Democratic Transition in Southern Europe”, Pridham, Geoffrey (ed.), Encouraging Democracy: The Internaional Context of Regime Transitions in Southern Europe, Leicester University Press, 1991. Geoffrey Pridham, “Change and Continuity in the European Union’s Political Conditionality: Aims, Approach and Priorities”, Democratization,14(3), 2007.
- “Türk Halkının AB’ye Bakışı Araştırması” (TAVAK), Türkiye-Avrupa Eğitim ve Bilimsel Araştırmalar Vakfı, Ağustos 2012.
- Mümtaz Soysal, 100 Soruda Anayasanın Anlamı, , Gerçek Yayınevi, Gözden Geçirilmiş 10. Baskı, 1995.
- İlhan Tekeli ve Selim İlkin, Türkiye ve Avrupa Birliği: Ulus Devleti Aşma Çabasındaki Avrupa’ya Türkiye’nin Yaklaşımı, Ümit Yayıncılık, 2000.
- Jolanda Westerling, “Conditionality and EU Membership: The Cases of Turkey and Cyprus”, European Foreign Affairs Review, 5:95-118, 2000.
- Usul, Ali Resul, Democracy in Turkey: The Impact of EU Political Conditionality, Routledge, 2011.
- Flavia Zanon, “The European Parliament: An autonomous foreign policy identity?”, Esther Barbé ve Anna Herranz, The Role of Parliaments in European Foreign Policy, Barcelona Office of the European Parliament, 2005.
- Piotr Zelowski, “Sticks, carrots and great expectations: Human rights conditionality and Turkey’s path towards membership of the European Union”, Center for International Relations, Warsaw, 09/04.
Details
| Primary Language | Turkish |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Political Science |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | May 1, 2013 |
| Submission Date | January 1, 2013 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2013 Volume: 12 Issue: 1 |
Ankara Review of European Studies (ARES) is licenced under the Creative Commons License of CC BY-NC-ND license.