Research

Preparing for a New Blueprint in EU-Turkey Relations?

Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, ENC’s Managing Director, wrote an article on deteriorating EU-Turkey relations.

Turkey’s EU accession has lost its significance over the past decade. Today, distorted incentive mechanisms govern relations between Ankara and Brussels, often altering rational policymaking. It is in the interest of both sides that existing structures remain in place until better ones replace or complement them. In the meantime, change is necessary to correct outdated structures that  encourage rivalry, and turn bilateral and multilateral relations with Turkey into uncalculated time bombs. Although migration and counter-terrorism play an important role, a new blueprint for a sustainable partnership necessitate a wider scope, including business support, trust, and respect for each sides’ priorities. A reformed Customs Union, energy cooperation, and coordination on geo-regional foreign policy areas like Iraq may prove useful.

The full article from the Turkish Policy Quarterly is available in PDF Format here.

Furthermore, the abridged version of the article is available here.

Release of ENC Analysis – “Turkey’s Quest for Visa-Free Access to Europe”

The European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) is glad to release the second analysis of the new feature “ENC Analysis“. The latter  displays research  by our Academic Council Members and External Advisors on relevant topics regarding the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) area and wider Europe.

This ENC Analysis features the opinion of Deniz Servantie on EU-Turkey relations and the roadmap to Visa Liberalization. The analysis looks back at the steps taken by the EU and Turkey from 2013 onwards and reflects on what is still to be achieved.

The full analysis is available in PDF format below.

 Turkey’s quest for Visa-Free Access to Europe

Release of ENC Analysis – Analysis of Political Parties’ Policies & Public Sector Opinions in Armenia

The European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) is glad to introduce a new feature entitled “ENC Analysis“. The latter will display analyses by our Academic Council Members and External Advisors on relevant topics regarding the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) area and wider Europe.

The first ENC Analysis features the study by  Stepan Grigoryan, Tatev Matinyan and Hasmik Grigoryan which measures the Armenian public’s opinions on the European Union, NATO, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The final objective of the study is to promote informed public debate within the country on Western values and institutions.

The full analysis is available in PDF format below.

 Analysis of Political Parties’ Policies and Public Sector Opinions in Armenia regarding the EU, NATO, CSTO, and the EEU

Release of ENC Report – A Modernized EU-Turkey Customs Union – Expert Interviews and Analysis

The European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) published its ENC Report entitled A Modernized EU-Turkey Customs Union – Expert Interviews and Analysis with in-depth interviews from relevant government policy makers inside the EU and Turkey, including also academics and private sector opinion-shapers on the topic of Customs Union reform.

A Modernized EU-Turkey Customs Union – Expert Interviews and Analysis contains 9 structured interviews with business, government and academic experts from the following institutions: Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), The Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÃœSIAD), Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEÄ°K), European Entrepreneurs CEA-PME, European Development Foundation (IKV), Ifo Center for International Economics, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Turkish Ministry of Economy, as well as academic and economic experts.

Expert views and analysis

On the 25th of January 2017, ENC held a preliminary Roundtable Policy Discussion in the European Parliament with the relevant stakeholders from business associations, industry sectors, think tanks and government. The objective was to discuss EU-Turkey economic relations, while preparing for the ENC Report on Customs Union reform.

The current Report highlights the need for reform and indicates a list of recommendations for policy adjustments which will both help boost growth and employment in Europe and Turkey, while providing an increasingly important foreign policy anchor for the EU and Turkey.

The full report can be downloaded free of charge on this page.

A Modernized EU-Turkey Customs Union