The EU impact on applications of Turkish regional policy

Turkey has been in a long harmonization process with the EU since 1950s, endeavoring for full membership by meeting the requirements set by the EU. The EU Regional Policy is among the most demanding policy in terms of its requirements, especially for a country like Turkey with high regional economic disparities. Since the regional disparities in Turkey are increasing and necessary financial assistance provided by the EU, the preference of Turkey to improve its economy at regional level is towards the EU. Thus, the analyses of both EU and Turkey in the regional development area are done in this work in detail. The classification of the regions under NUTS II categorization like in the EU and the establishment of the RDAs in Turkey are conspicuous reforms in institutional structure of the country. By providing consulting services and use of financial resources, the RDAs are functional bodies for the improvements made in the regional development area. Turkey had significant progress in converging its institutional and legislative structures but still there is a long to do list including the improvements on administrative capacity, labor force, financial controlling and monitoring mechanisms, and programming. If we take the İstanbul Development Agency (İSTKA) as an example of the RDAs in Turkey, the evolution of RDAs and their attempts should continue, pursuant to accession in the EU as to develop its regions economically. Considering the EU as the pattern of modernity, democracy and development, Turkey should maintain its reforms in line with the EU criteria to become a part of the EU in the near future