ADAPTATION OF TURKEY’S REGIONAL POLICIES TO THE EU ACQUIS: AN EVALUATION THROUGH PROGRESS REPORTS (1998-2012)

Yıl 2013, Cilt: 21 Sayı: 2, 165 - 193, 25.12.2013

Onur Sungur , Hidayet Keskin Murat Dulupçu

https://doi.org/10.29228/mjes.106

Öz

Abstract

Regional disparities, as in every country, represent one of the basic problem areas in Turkey. Although regional policy has always been given importance in the five-year development plans, regional disparities still remain as a fundamental problem in Turkey. According to the data of year 2001 (the latest data available at the provincial level), there is a huge income differences among the provinces as much as eleven times. This situation is not much different at the regional level. But recently Turkey has entered a new route with the EU accession process and has experienced a transformation process in regional development in terms of both theory and practice. Considering the recent practices in the field of regional development, it is seen that the concept of ‘old regionalism’ was abandoned and the ‘new regionalism’ approach has begun to be adopted through focusing on the concepts such as R&D, innovation, clusters and new industrial spaces. Legal/institutional regulations related to the acquis have accelerated in the field of regional development when Turkey’s candidacy status was declared after the 1999 Helsinki Summit.

In this study, the transformation in regional development in Turkey within the process of the EU will be examined. First Turkey’s development plans and regional policies will be reviewed. Then, acquis of EU regional policy, the structural funds and documents will be examined critically, particularly referring to Progress Reports. Finally, efforts with respect to adaptation to acquis will be evaluated and the route which Turkey will/must follow in case of EU membership will be discussed.

Keywords: Regional Development, Regional Policy, Development Plans, Turkey, Progress Reports 

Anahtar Kelimeler

Bölgesel Gelişme, Bölgesel Politika, Kalkınma Planları, Türkiye, İlerleme Raporları

ADAPTATION OF TURKEY’S REGIONAL POLICIES TO THE EU ACQUIS: AN EVALUATION THROUGH PROGRESS REPORTS (1998-2012)

Öz

Regional disparities, as in every country, represent one of the basic problem areas in Turkey. Although regional policy has always been given importance in the five-year development plans, regional disparities still remain as a fundamental problem in Turkey. According to the data of year 2001 (the latest data available at the provincial level), there is a huge income differences among the provinces as much as eleven times. This situation is not much different at the regional level. But recently Turkey has entered a new route with the EU accession process and has experienced a transformation process in regional development in terms of both theory and practice. Considering the recent practices in the field of regional development, it is seen that the concept of ‘old regionalism’ was abandoned and the ‘new regionalism’ approach has begun to be adopted through focusing on the concepts such as R&D, innovation, clusters and new industrial spaces. Legal/institutional regulations related to the acquis have accelerated in the field of regional development when Turkey’s candidacy status was declared after the 1999 Helsinki Summit. In this study, the transformation in regional development in Turkey within the process of the EU will be examined. First Turkey’s development plans and regional policies will be reviewed. Then, acquis of EU regional policy, the structural funds and documents will be examined critically, particularly referring to Progress Reports. Finally, efforts with respect to adaptation to acquis will be evaluated and the route which Turkey will/must follow in case of EU membership will be discussed.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Regional Development, Regional Policy, Development Plans, Turkey, Progress Reports

Kaynakça

• Akdenizli, D., (2007), “Kalkınma Ajansları Neden Gerekli?”, (2 September 2007), Radikal.
• Amin, A. & Thrift, N. (1994), Globalization, Institutions and Regional Economic Development in Europe, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
• Amin, A. & Thrift, N., (1995), “Institutional Issues for the European Regions: From Markets and Plans to Socioeconomics and Powers of Association”, Economy And Society, 24(1), pp. 41-65.
• Avrupa Komisyonu Türkiye Temsilciliği (2000), Avrupa Birliği Bölgesel Politika: Yerli Kaynakların Ekonomik Gelişme İçin Harekete Geçirilmesi, Ankara.
• Başbakanlık, (2002), 2002/4720 Sayılı Bölgesel İstatistiklerin Toplanması, Geliştirilmesi, Bölgelerin Sosyo-Ekonomik Analizlerinin Yapılması, Bölgesel Politikaların Çerçevesinin Belirlenmesi ve Avrupa Birliği Bölgesel İstatistik Sistemine Uygun Karşılaştırılabilir İstatistikî Veri Tabanı Oluşturulması Amacıyla Ülke Çapında İstatistikî Bölge Birimleri Sınıflandırılmasının Tanımlanmasına ilişkin Karar, (22 September 2002), 24884 Sayılı Resmi Gazete.
• Başbakanlık, (2003), Avrupa Birliği Müktesebatının Üstlenilmesine İlişkin Türkiye Ulusal Programı, (24 July 2003), 25178 Sayılı Resmi Gazete.
• Brasche, U., (2001), Avrupa Birliği’nin Bölgesel Politikası ve Türkiye’nin Uyumu, (trans.) by H. Cansevdi, İktisadi Kalkınma Vakfı Yayınları, İstanbul.
• Burfisher, M.E., Robinson, S. & Thierfelder, K. (2004), Regionalism: Old and New, Theory and Practice, International Food Policy Research Institute, Markets, Trade and Institutions Division Working Paper No: 65.
• DPT (1962), Birinci Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (1967), İkinci Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (1972), Üçüncü Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (1978), Dördüncü Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (1982), Türkiye'de Yerleşme Merkezlerinin Kademelenmesi: Ülke Yerleşme Merkezleri Sistemi, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (1985), Beşinci Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (1990), Altıncı Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (1996), Yedinci Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (2000a), Uzun Vadeli Strateji ve Sekizinci Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (2000b), Sekizinci Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı Bölgesel Gelişme Özel İhtisas Komisyonu Raporu, DPT, Ankara.
• DPT (2003a), Türkiye İçin Katılım Ortaklığı Belgesi, Ankara.
• DPT (2003b), Ön Ulusal Kalkınma Planı (2004-2006), Ankara.
• DPT (2003c), İller ve Bölgeler İtibarıyla GSYİH’daki Gelişmeler (1987-2000), DPT, Ankara. DPT (2007), Dokuzuncu Beş Yıllık Kalkınma Planı, DPT, Ankara.
• Dulupçu, M.A. & Sungur, O. (2006), “Adaptation Problem of Turkey to the Regional Policies Within the Process of the EU Membership: Dilemmas and Opportunities”, International Conference on The Changes and Transformations in the Socio-Economic and Political Structure of Turkey Within the EU Negotiations, Dumlupınar University, March 16-18, Kütahya, pp. 297-316.
• Dulupçu, M.A., (2005), “Regionalization for Turkey: An Illusion or a Cure?”, European Urban and Regional Studies, 12(9), pp. 99-115.
• Dulupçu, M.A., (2006), “Bölgesel Politikalar Kopyalanabilir mi? Bölgeselleş(tir)me (Yönetim) Karşısında (Yeni) Bölge(sel)cilik (Yönetişim)”, Bölgesel Kalkınma ve Yönetişim Sempozyumu, ODTU, September 7-8, Ankara, pp. 233-255.
• Dulupçu, M.A., Gül, H. & Okçu, M., (2013), Regional and Local Perspectives in Economic Development in Turkey, Turkey in the New Millennium: A Critique of Political, Social and Economic Transformations, Kamalak, İ. & Gül, H. (eds), Lambert Academic Publishing, pp. 263-311.
• Emek, U., (2004), Understanding Structural Reforms in Turkey, Turkey and the EU Enlargement: Processes of Incorporation, Griffits R.T & Özdemir, D. (eds), Istanbul Bilgi University Press, Istanbul, pp. 103-128.
• Ertugal, E., (2005), “Strategies For Regional Development: Challenges Facing Turkey on the Road to EU Membership”, Turkish Policy Quarterly, 4(3), pp. 63-86.
• European Commission (EC) (1998), Regular Report from the Commission on Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession, 4 November, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (1999), Regular Report from the Commission on Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession, 13 October, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2000), Regular Report from the Commission on Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession, 8 November, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2001), Regular Report on Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession, 13 November, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2002), Regular Report on Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession, 6 October, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2003), Regular Report on Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession, 8 November, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2004), Regular Report on Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession, 9 October, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2005a), Turkey 2005 Progress Report, 9 November, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2005b), Proposal for a Council Decision-On the Principles, Priorities and Conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Turkey, 9 September, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2005c), 2005 Enlargement Strategy Paper, 9 September, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2006a), Turkey 2006 Progress Report, 8 November, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2006b), Council Regulation No: 1085/2006, Official Journal of European Union, Date: 31.07.2006
• European Commission (EC) (2007), Turkey 2007 Progress Report, 6 November, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2008), Turkey 2008 Progress Report, 5 November, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2009), Turkey 2009 Progress Report, 14 October, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2010), Turkey 2010 Progress Report, 9 November, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2011), Turkey 2011 Progress Report, 12 October, Brussels.
• European Commission (EC) (2012), Turkey 2012 Progress Report, 10 October, Brussels.
• Filiztekin, A., (2008), Türkiye’de Bölgesel Farklar ve Politikalar, TÜSİAD Yayınları No: TÜSİAD-T/2008-09/471, Istanbul.
• Florida, R., (1995), “Toward The Learning Region”, Futures, 27, pp. 527-536.
• Göksu, S. (2000), Küreselleşme ve Planlama Sonu, Dünya Şehircilik Günü 23. Kolokyumu Bin Yılda Küreselleşme ve Planlama, Yıldız Teknik University Press, Istanbul.
• Hettne, B., (2005), “Beyond the ‘New’ Regionalism”, New Political Economy, 10(4), pp. 543-5
• IRE - Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE), <www.innovating-regions.org>. Keating, M., (1998), The New Regionalism in Western Europe, Territorial Restructuring and Political Change, Edward Elgar Publishing, Aldershot.
• Loewendahl-Ertugal, E., (2005), “Europeanisation of Regional Policy and Regional Governance: The Case of Turkey”, European Political Economy Review, 3(1), pp. 18-53. Lovering, J., (1999), “Theory Led by Policy? The Inadequacies of the ‘New Regionalism’ in Economic Geography Illustrated from the Case of Wales”, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 23, pp. 379-395.
• Ministry for EU Affairs (2012), 2012 Progress Report prepared by Turkey, December.
• OECD (1986), Documentation for the Review of Regional Problems and Policies in Turkey, Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry, England.
• OECD (1988), Regional Problems and Policies in Turkey, Paris.
• OECD (2009a), Policy Brief, March.
• OECD (2009b), How Regions Grow: Trends and Analysis, Paris.