Turkey’s sustainable development policies in the EU accession process

Abstract:

This article is an evaluation of the status of harmonisation with regard to Turkey's sustainable development policies in the EU accession process. This evaluation has been performed within the framework of the legal obligations that Turkey has assumed in this regard as member of the international community. This assessment of compliance with these obligations at the national level has been carried out in the context of legally binding documents like the constitution, laws and development plans, as well as with national policy documents like the National Environmental Strategy and Action Plan and National Agenda 21. An examination of Turkey's efforts to comply with EU policies, progress reports and the accession partnership document that outlines EU's expectations and the commitments in the national program that Turkey has prepared for this purpose reveals that the issue of environmental harmonisation has been designated as a priority policy area. However, it is clear that Turkey has made no progress with regard to compliance with sustainable development policies.