THE ACTIVITIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE BLACK SEA: ITS POLICIES, STRENGTHS-WEAKNESSES AND RIVALRY WITH RUSSIA

Year 2017, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 89 - 102, 31.10.2017

Seven Erdoğan

https://doi.org/10.29216/ueip.340144

Abstract

Black Sea is a region of opportunities and
challenges. The attractiveness of these opportunities pushes many international
actors including the EU to involve in the politics of the region despite the
challenges existing in the region. After the end of Cold War, it became
possible for the EU to establish relations with the countries in the region.
The eastern enlargement covering the post-Soviet countries in the Central and
Eastern Europe led to an increase in the importance of the Black Sea region in the
EU’s neighbourhood. By the way, the EU has been involving into the region
through various kinds of mechanisms. As the level of involvement of the EU to
the region increases, the competition between the EU and Russia aiming to
design their shared neighbourhoods in line with their own objectives has also
intensified. This study aims to examine the EU’s way of handling of its
relations with the Black Sea region. In this scope, firstly, the EU mechanisms targeting
the region will be elaborated. Secondly, the strengths and weaknesses of the EU
policies in the Black Sea region will be discussed. Finally, the balance
between the EU and Russia in the Black Sea will be considered. 

Keywords

European Union, Black Sea, European Neighbourhood Policy, Eastern Partnership, Russia

AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ’NİN KARADENİZ’DEKİ FAALİYETLERİ: POLİTİKALARI, GÜÇLÜ-ZAYIF YÖNLERİ VE RUSYA İLE REKABETİ

Abstract

Karadeniz fırsatlar ve meydan okumaları
bünyesinde barındıran bir bölgedir. Bölgenin sunduğu fırsatların cazibesi,
birçok uluslararası aktörü, Avrupa Birliği (AB) de dâhil olmak üzere, bölgedeki
meydan okumalara aldırış etmeden bölgeye müdahil olmaya yöneltmektedir. Soğuk
Savaşın bitmesinin ardından AB’nin bölge ülkeleriyle ilişki kurması mümkün hale
gelmiştir. Merkezi ve Doğu Avrupa’da yer alan eski Sovyet ülkelerinin doğu
genişlemesiyle AB üyesi haline gelmesiyle Karadeniz bölgesinin AB’nin komşuluk
alanlarındaki önemi de artmıştır. Bundan dolayı AB bölgeye farklı mekanizmalar yoluyla
müdahil olmaktadır. AB’nin bölgeye dâhil olma düzeyinde meydana gelen artışa
bağlı olarak Rusya ile arasında bölgeyi kendi hedeflerine uygun olarak
dönüştürmek noktasındaki rekabette de artış gözlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada AB’nin
Karadeniz bölgesiyle ilişkilerini nasıl ele aldığı incelenmesi hedeflenmektedir.
Bu bağlamda, ilk olarak, AB’nin bölgeye yönelik politika araçları
açıklanacaktır. İkinci olarak, AB’nin Karadeniz’deki güçlü ve zayıf yanları ele
alınacaktır. Son olarak ise Karadeniz’de AB ve Rusya arasındaki denge analiz
edilecektir.

Keywords

Avrupa Birliği, Karadeniz, Avrupa Komşuluk Politikası, Doğu Ortaklığı, Rusya

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