Avrupa Birliği'nin Avrupa'daki ayrılıkçı hareketler üzerindeki rolü: Bask ve Kuzey İrlanda örneği

The study offers an insight into the role of the European Union on the separatist movements in Europe. In the research, a conceptual framework was provided about the legal and historical background of the separatist movements. In the theoretical framework of the study, Social Constructivism was imposed and the Multi-level Governance (MLG) was used to emphasize the transformation of European politics with separatist movements. The promotion of the European Union law and the European identity based on the fundamental values such as democracy, the rule of law, respect for human dignity and human rights contributed to defuse ethno-nationalist tensions within the EU member states. The restructuring of the European Union's institutions through the treaties enabled the subnational actors to gain ground in the EU governance. The European Union Cohesion Policy is the concrete evidence of the empowerment of subnational authorities in the recent years. On the one hand, the mobilization of subnational actors through lobbying activities made it possible to exert influence over the EU institutions regarding the policymaking process. On the other hand, the subnational actors take an active role in the policy implementation process owing to the programmes under the Cohesion Policy. While undermining the states' gatekeeping role, the European Union gives an opportunity to the subnational actors to have a voice in the EU governance. In this context, through Basque and Northern Ireland cases, the study discusses that the European Union has become an actor that plays key role in the transformation of ethno-nationalist tensions in Europe.