A comparative analysis of public debt in the EU and Turkey within the framework of Maastricht fiscal discipline criteria (2000-2014)

The European Union has made foreseeing applications for the candidate countries to ensure of certain conditions. Especially after the period of the fifth enlargement, brought to comply certain political and economic criteria for the countries applying for full membership , it was expected to provide necessarry economic conditions to adapt of the European Union Economiy. In this study, Turkey has relations with the European Union based on the 1959 and it accepted the application for full membership to the European Union in 2005, analized budget balance and public debt indicators in the framework of Maastricht Criteria in comparison with European Union countries after 2000. Especially the budget deficit and debt criteria are discussed of the Maastricht Criteria concerning the financial discipline. In the study, presented the developments and strategies implemented by Turkey in the field of public finance between 2000 - 2014 and examined the impact on public financial indicators of the convergence of the Maastricht Criteria.