Security challenges in relations between Turkey and the European Union

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of the article is to analyze the security problems that have emerged between Turkey and the European Union in recent years. The subject of the research was to gain extensive knowledge about contemporary relations between Turkey and the European Union. This goal was achieved by trying to analyze the most important factors determining the Turkish and Union foreign policy.

APPROACH/METHODOLOGY/DESIGN: IDI research was used in the study. These methods include conducting in-depth interviews with the government officials, as well as representatives of the international institutions responsible for the foreign policy. Moreover, CAWI techniques were used in the study. The study was conducted at the turn of 2018 and 2021.

FINDINGS: Turkey plays a key role in the security of the European Union. Currently is hosting about 4 million refugees. Moreover, Turkey has been a major transit route for European jihadists heading to the Middle East. However, Turkey is exploiting the migrant crisis and the jihadists to gain political concessions. It wishes to soften the EU's sanction against its policy in the potentially oil-rich regions of the eastern Mediterranean.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of this research may prove very useful in the context of ongoing academic discussions on the terrorist threat in the region and the dynamics and development of events in the Middle East. The article may indicate what policy should be implicate toward Turkey.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The article attempts to fill a gap in the literature on the subject. Research approach may clarify the essence of the relationship between Turkey and the European Union. Thus, the results of these studies may prove very useful in the context of the ongoing academic debates surrounding the role of Turkey in the region and what is its dynamics and the interest toward the Europe. Project may indicate what policies should be adopted by the Western countries in relation to Turkey. Besides, it is unlikely that future developments in the Middle East will lead to the end of the war in the region, and therefore this analytical work will remain important for many readers, including scholars, who want to broaden their knowledge and understand the role of Turkey in international relations.