Effects of EU projects on improvement of institutional capacity and regional development (Case of TR82 nuts ii)

As a candidate country to EU, Turkey has benefited from EU financial assistances under IPA. Up to date, totally 3 226 EU grant projects were implemented by means of the Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) and a total of 402 755 635,71 Euro financial support was provided from the EU in Turkey. The aim of this thesis is to reveal the effects of these financial supports provided from the EU via the projects over institutional capacity development and regional development. Thus, an example of demonstrating the effects and consequences of these financial supports donated by the EU will be formed. "TR82 Nuts 2 Region" has been selected as the research area. The primary data was collected through questionnaires among institutions/organizations which conducted an EU grant project through CFCU in the region during past years and selected by using "judgmental sampling method". In the study, it has been concluded that the projects supported by the EU grants which were conducted by means of CFCU have contributed to institutional capacity development and regional development. In addition, "chi-square (χ2)" was applied between the legal status, the provinces, project implementation experiences of the institutions/organizations which were taken part in the survey and different criteria, and the relations determined through analysis results were stated. Keywords: IPA, Institutional Capacity, Regional Development,TR 82 Nuts II, Turkey