The European Union in the Balkans: Strategic Partners or Competitors?

Dursun-Ozkanca, Oya (2015) The European Union in the Balkans: Strategic Partners or Competitors? [Conference Proceedings] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction: Since the 1990s, Turkey and the EU have increasingly pursued active foreign policies in the Balkans. Establishing peace, stability, and security in this region have been among the top priorities for both the Turkish and the EU foreign policies in the post-Cold War era. Over the past few years, Turkey’s active foreign policy approach towards the Balkans has been frequently labeled as “Neo-Ottomanism”. Against the background of deteriorating relations between the EU and Turkey due to serious setbacks in Turkey’s accession negotiations with the EU, Turkey has been attempting to use its soft power potential to consolidate its political, economic, and cultural influence in the Balkans. The analysis in this paper draws on extensive elite interviews conducted in Turkey, the United Kingdom, Serbia, and Bosnia from 2011 to 2013. This paper first explores the track record of both Turkey and the EU foreign policies in the region. It then provides an overview of the recent developments in EU-Turkey relations, and their implications on each actor’s approach towards the Balkans. The paper concludes with an analysis of compatibility in the foreign policies of both actors to examine whether Turkey and the EU are regarded as strategic partners or competitors in the region.

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