Minority issue in the context of European Union-Turkey relationships

ABSTRACTMaster Degree with ThesissMinority Issue In The Context of European Union-Turkey RelationshipsMüjde GÖRGÜLÜDokuz Eylul UniversityInstitute Of Social SciencesDepartment of ManagementThe issue of minorities which has always been a crucial problem in the context ofinternational relations is also one of the main concerns of the European Union especiallyafter 1990?s when Union aggreed to be a political union besides an economic one.Despite the fact that the majority of international organisations is in the aim to identifythe minority problem and define a generally accepted solution in the supra-nationallevel , there is neither a clear-cut definiton of the term of the ?minority?, nor aninternationally standardised legal basis has been determined yet.The same situation exists in the EU?s member states and the constitution basis,where no shift achieved from state basis to supranational level in terms of legal andpractical basis as the EU 15 countries do not enjoy accepting the norms that is set aspre-conditions for candidate countries under the heading of Copenhagen Criterias. Inthe period following the enlargement process and the discussions of the EuropeanConstitution just arrived a solution, it is quite dificult to talk about a well-definedattitude concerning the issue of minorities within the context of European integration.Additionally last years show increasing intolerence towards minorities from differentethnic groups in member states.With using descriptive and comparative approach the main purpose of the studyis to draw attention to the ambiguity within both in the context of the European Unionand the member states, while arguing the fact that altough the Union can not set well-defined norms and protective solutions for the minority groups in its body, very strictpre-conditions supposed for generally all candidate countries but all in one for Turkey.ABSTRACTMaster Degree with ThesissMinority Issue In The Context of European Union-Turkey RelationshipsMüjde GÖRGÜLÜDokuz Eylul UniversityInstitute Of Social SciencesDepartment of ManagementThe issue of minorities which has always been a crucial problem in the context ofinternational relations is also one of the main concerns of the European Union especiallyafter 1990?s when Union aggreed to be a political union besides an economic one.Despite the fact that the majority of international organisations is in the aim to identifythe minority problem and define a generally accepted solution in the supra-nationallevel , there is neither a clear-cut definiton of the term of the ?minority?, nor aninternationally standardised legal basis has been determined yet.The same situation exists in the EU?s member states and the constitution basis,where no shift achieved from state basis to supranational level in terms of legal andpractical basis as the EU 15 countries do not enjoy accepting the norms that is set aspre-conditions for candidate countries under the heading of Copenhagen Criterias. Inthe period following the enlargement process and the discussions of the EuropeanConstitution just arrived a solution, it is quite dificult to talk about a well-definedattitude concerning the issue of minorities within the context of European integration.Additionally last years show increasing intolerence towards minorities from differentethnic groups in member states.With using descriptive and comparative approach the main purpose of the studyis to draw attention to the ambiguity within both in the context of the European Unionand the member states, while arguing the fact that altough the Union can not set well-defined norms and protective solutions for the minority groups in its body, very strictpre-conditions supposed for generally all candidate countries but all in one for Turkey.Key Word:1. Minorities in EU2. Minorities in Turkey3. Minority Issue in EU Law4. Minority Issue in Turkey Law