Coordinator: Center for European Studies(CES), Middle East Technical University Ankara, Turkey Partner: Jean Monnet Centre (JMC), Department of Political Science and European Affairs, University of Cologne, Germany Associates: European Research Centre of Akdeniz University (EURAK), Antalya University of Gaziantep, International Relations and EU Office, Gaziantep University of Gaziosmanpaşa, Tokat Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, Samsun Sabancı University, Istanbul Siena University, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca sul Cambiamento Politico (CIRCAP), Siena, Italy Trakya University, International Relations Department, Edirne University of Yüzüncü Yıl, Van

Project Duration : 18 Months Completion Date: 30 November 2009 Interim Report: 31 May 2009 Final Report: 31 December 2009

Overall Objectives To create synergies between academic networks in Turkey and the EU by strengthening their collaboration and integration through the CES-METU – JMC, University of Cologne partnership with a view to a ‘dual gate opener’ function by: Enhancing CES-METU’s integration in the ERA through networks such as EU-CONSENT, TEPSA and Jean Monnet Chairs Opening the gates of ERA for CES-METU’s national network of universities To question the ‘myths’ that characterise the debate on Turkey’s EU accession process by engaging academic communities in constructive dialogue and extensive research in 3 priority areas: EU’s institutional architecture: theories, strategies and lessons learned from enlargement Employment, social affairs and equal opportunities External relations (CFSP, ESDP and ENP) To ensure better knowledge and understanding of Turkey within the EU and of the EU within Turkey focusing on 3 priority areas by contributing to: Conceptions on political and socio-economic implications of Turkey’s accession to the EU Current debates on EU institutional reforms and EU’s absorption capacity To include equal opportunities and sustainable development as overarching dimensions informing all stages of research in 3 priority areas

Specific Objective To strengthen the position of Turkish network of universities in ERA through Collaboration among CES-METU, JMC, University of Cologne, associate universities and European research and academic networks Increasing teaching capacity through joint curriculum development within JMC network

Target Groups Researchers, members of faculty and undergraduate and graduate students at: –CES-METU –6 universities across different regions of Turkey –Networks of ERA (EU-CONSENT, TEPSA) Final beneficiaries: European wide academic community, regional universities in Turkey, civil society organisations, media, business actors involved in advocacy work in Turkey-EU affairs

Overall Aim To address issues that will contribute to better informing the public in the EU and Turkey through scientific interaction, networking, exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices, and to establish a sustainable long-term partnership among academic institutions in Turkey and leading European networks of research institutions specialising in EU affairs: –A set of activities strengthening and integrating academic networking through collaborative empirical research and mutual exchange of ideas and experience in the 3 three priority areas. –Highlighting the opportunities and challenges posed by Turkey’s accession to the EU by questioning the myths in the three priority areas through elite interviews, analysis of perceptions and visions, dissemination and communication activities.

Shortcomings of the debate on Turkey’s accession Current debate mainly focuses on Copenhagen political and economic criteria EU enlargement and the effects of Turkey’s EU accession are rarely studied through an interdisciplinary, systematic perspective with empirically grounded data The actors that shape and are shaped by the debate rarely engage in constructive dialogue

Needs addressed by SInAN To bring together academic institutions in the EU and in Turkey, including researchers, students and members of faculty with limited access to European platforms of reflection and debate on state-of-art and best practices, which deprives them of sustained scientific interaction and exchange of experience To question the myths that characterise the terms of the current debate on Turkey’s EU integration process by engaging academic communities in constructive dialogue through scientific collaborative empirical research and mutual exchange of ideas and experience on the 3 priority areas To facilitate better knowledge and understanding of Turkey within the EU and of the EU within Turkey, focusing on EU institutional reforms necessitated by the enlargement process, challenges posed by the economic and social aspects of EU integration and implications of the Turkish membership for the EU’s external action capacities To promote awareness of the opportunities and challenges of the Turkish accession to the EU by creating synergies between CES-METU and its national network of universities on the one hand, and JMC, University of Cologne and its networks in the ERA on the other, through strengthening contacts and mutual exchange of experience

3 Action Clusters ACTION I: CES-METU – JMC, UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMME ACTION II: EXCHANGING RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND KNOW-HOW ON EU- TURKEY RELATIONS ACTION III: DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE AND BEST PRACTICES

CES-METU – JMC, University of Cologne Collaborative Research Programme Aims: –To create a platform for exchange of ideas, experience and best practices regarding the identification, questioning and debunking of the myths surrounding the debate on Turkey’s accession to the EU by bringing together scholars and young researchers engaged in comparative and inter-disciplinary research, with a view to furthering and deepening the integration between research institutions within and between countries –To bring together all stakeholders of the project, including Ph.D. candidates, around the three priority areas of the project, and to engage them in the preparation and implementation of the elite interview Activities: –Activity 1. Steering Committee Meetings –Activity 2. Coordination Meeting –Activity 3. Joint Research Workshop: ‘Questioning the myths of enlarging EU’ –Activity 4. A Focus on Elite Perceptions –Activity 5. Two Joint Ph.D. Schools –Activity 6. Joint Flagship Conference: “Turkey’s Accession to the European Union: Communicating Research Findings for Constructive Dialogue”

Exchanging Research Experience and Know-how on EU-Turkey Relations Aims: –To develop integrated research agendas among partners –To increase the two-way mobility among researchers of CES- METU, JMC University of Cologne and associate institutions –To provide two-way research opportunities for Ph.D. candidates –To increase the opportunities for participating researchers to contribute to conferences and publications in the research area –To develop new research activities while increasing dialogue and information between CES-METU and partner institutions Activities: –Activity 1. CES-METU Fellowship Programme –Activity 2. Study Visit Programme for Ph.D. Candidates –Activity 3. Curriculum Development

Disseminating Knowledge and Best Practices Aims: –To inform a wide audience about the activities of the project –To increase awareness and consciousness on EU enlargement, institutional reform and the accession process of Turkey –To facilitate communication with civil society organisations, researchers, policy makers, and practitioners –To provide a platform for exchange of ideas and information –To make available research results to academia and the wider public Activities: –Activity 1. Web Page –Activity 2. Newsletter –Activity 3. Working Papers and Edited Volume –Activity 4. Turkey Watch

Work Packages WP1: EU’s institutional architecture: theories, strategies and lessons learned from enlargement WP2: Employment, social affairs and equal opportunities WP3: External relations (CFSP, ESDP and ENP) WP4: ‘Myths’ and Elites

CES-METU – University of Cologne Collaborative Research Programme Steering Committ ee Exchanging Research Experience and Know- How on EU-Turkey Relations Disseminating Knowledge and Best Practices WP I Institutional Architecture WP III External Relations WP IV ‘Myths’ and Elites WP II Employment / Social Affairs ERA Network s CES- METU CIVIL SOCIET Y ÖYP Uni. of Cologne

Division of Labour CES-METU: –Overall implementation and management of the project, its activities, budget, time frame, reports etc. –Coordination among partners and associates –Coordination of WP II, III and IV JMC, University of Cologne: –Opening the gates of ERA to CES-METU’s national associates through its important role in networks such as EU-CONSENT, TEPSA. –Coordination of WP I –Assisting in the organisation of all major events and activities, particularly curriculum development, the Brussels workshop and Ph.D. Schools –Contribution of staff to research teams and activities, –Support for ‘Turkey Watch’ Associate Universities: –Active participation in and input for planned activities and research teams –Contribution to the website, working papers, Newsletter and project reports –Key role in the elite interviews to be conducted in each of these six cities –Elite interviews will be prepared with the crucial collaboration of Universities of Sabancı and Siena, who have considerable experience in this field and will provide the necessary input for the coordination of interviews

Estimated Results A solid and sustainable network / joint programme aiming at: –Turkish universities’ enhanced participation in ERA; development of joint proposals for national and international grants –Increased research interest and academic know-how on issues related to Turkey’s accession to the EU, and the socio-economic and political structure of Turkey –Increased two-way mobility of researchers, academic staff and Ph.D students between Turkey and EU –Establishment of European Studies Centres at ÖYP universities through increased human capital and research capacity –Development of informed constructive dialogue on Turkey’s accession fostered by the collaborative research; establishment of a joint platform for the discussion and understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by the Turkish EU membership