The Future of EU-Turkey Relations: Mapping Dynamics and Testing Scenarios

The EU and Turkey face mounting challenges both in relation to one another and internationally. The EU has recently been confronted with a series of crises, e.g. in the economic and migration dimensions. These developments as well as the Brexit-question are likely to make differentiation a growing phenomenon. On the other hand, Turkey faces polarisation between different political forces, the state and civil society. The neighbourhood is unravelling to the east and south and a power shift is under way at global level. This questions the regional roles of Turkey and the EU.

Against this backdrop, FEUTURE’s research aims to: 

• map the dynamics of EU-Turkey relations as to underlying narratives and thematic drivers; 
• substantiate most likely future scenario(s) and assess its implications; 
• draw policy recommendations. 

FEUTURE provides excellence and pursues an ambitious, inspiring and innovative programme in a three-phased structure of elaboration, exploration and extrapolation. It applies an inter-temporal, interdisciplinary and international approach by analysing drivers within six thematic dimensions (politics, security, economics, energy, migration, identity) and across four levels of analysis (EU, Turkey, neighbourhood, global). 

FEUTURE project lifetime:

Project start: 1 April 2016

Project end: 31 March 2019