Europeanization of National Interests: the Turkish Case

(Didem Buhari, University of Edinburgh)

Turkey's accession negotiations to the European Union (EU) have been stalled unless it makes the necessary compliance with the EU norms. Domestic restrictions justified as serving Turkish national interest have become obstacles to Turkey's full membership to the European Union. The restrictions on foreigners' acquisition of immovable property in Turkey constitute an example. Although the pro-EU Turkish government JDP has tried to lift the limitations, it has faced severe institutional resistance from Turkish Constitutional Court and main political parties. However, the recent reelection of JDP is opening up horizons for new attempts to further pro-EU transformation.

This study aims at exploring the Europeanization process of Turkey from a neo-institutionalist perspective. The EU is thus considered as a normative power, exporting norms through moral persuasion, leading by example and political conditionality. Hence, it seeks to understand through which mechanisms the EU norms diffuse in Turkey, the underlying logic(s) of the diffusion process and the domestic salience of the EU norms.

Particular contentious cases -related to foreigners' rights in Turkey- will be introduced in order to trace the process through the analysis of relevant official documents such as the EU Commission reports, Turkish Parliamentary debates, and the EU and Turkish case-law.