The regulations made for the non-governmental organizations in the EU integration process and awareness of non-governmental organizations

In Turkey, with 2000s, the studies on its way to EU integration have been accelerated. After Turkey's candidate in 1999, The European Council has fırst announced the APD (Accession Partnership Document) that contains the obligations Turkey must fulfill in 2000. After approval of the APD by Parliament, Turkey has prepared the fırst National Program that include regulations made under APD in 2001 and has made arrangements in the Constitution and various laws, in accordance with the Copenhagen political criteria.Turkey, in accordance with the decision of the Heads of EU States andGovernments Summit, dated December 17, 2004, officially began accession negotiations to the EU with the Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg On 3 October 2005. The same day, a Negotiating Framework Document, for Turkey, has been published. Thus, exceeding a crucial turning point, bumpy relations between Turkey and the EU has entered a whole new Process. An important part of arrangements is related to NGOs, especially associations. In this research, the main arrangements related to the associations in Turkey in EU integration process and the levelawareness of associations about these arrangements have been reviewed. For this purpose, a survey has been conducted for the associations in 12 provinces (Ankara, Antalya, Balıkesir, Bursa, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir, Kırıkkale, Malatya, Trabzon and Zonguldak), selected from Level I according to SPO (State Planning Organization) Statistical Territorial Units. Proposed work, is intended to fill a basic gap to make recommendations in bringing up the level of awareness of associations about the arrangements carried out related to NGOs, listing and resolving the deficiencies in EU integration process. At this point, the study, which will be the first in Turkey, is expected to guide policy makers and practitioners as well as science world with its results. The 12-month andsufficient budgeted project has been fulfilled with the survey method by the project team who has expertise and works in the field of EU integration process and NGOs.