Effects of the enlargement process on EU agriculture and agricultural policies and their implications for Turkish agriculture

ABSTRACTM. Sc. THESISEFFECTS OF THE ENLARGEMENT PROCESS ON EU AGRICULTURE ANDAGRICULTURAL POLICIES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR TURKISHAGRICULTUREAli Rıza DEPREMÇUKUROVA UNIVERSITYINSTITUTE OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCESDEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICSSupervisor: Prof. Dr. M. Necat ÖRENYear: 2006, Pages:103Jury : Prof. Dr. M. Necat ÖRENDoç.Dr.Seda ŞENGÜLYrd.Doç.Dr.Cahit GÜNGÖRThis study analyses the effects of EU enlargement process on the agricultureand agricultural policies of the Union and their implications for Turkish agriculture.The most recent enlargement occurred in May, 2004, has significantly changed theagricultural structure of the Union and caused dramatic changes in CAP, towardscreation of a more competitive environment and recognition of the increasingimportance of rural development through limitations put on the amount and extent ofthe supports. WTO agreements have also played an efficient role in thoseregulations.Accession of Turkey will cause much more radical changes in EU agricultureand CAP expenses. With its present status, Turkish agriculture is being seen one ofthe greatest barriers before accession. It will not be easy for Turkey to adapt toconstantly changing and complicated CAP. With recent developments, somerestrictions have been set forth on allowing a transition period for adaptation and useof the Union funds. In this sense, based on the recent developments, it can beconcluded that it has become more important for Turkey to eliminate its fundamentaldifferences in agricultural structure and policies before accession with its ownopportunities.Keywords: European Union (EU), Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Turkey,Agricultural Policies, Agricultural Sector, Enlargement Process.