documents and plans which set forth the objectives and actions and provided a
comprehensive analysis of the subject. Examples include the National Plan for In
Situ Conservation of Plant Genetic Diversity (1998) and the National
Environmental Action Plan (1999).
In the Five Year Development Plans of this period, namely the Fifth (1985–
1989), the Sixth (1990–1994) and the Seventh (1996–2000) ones, it is observed that
environmental issues were embedded in the plans in a more developed and detailed
way. In the Seventh Plan, sustainable development was adopted as one of the basic
principles and objectives and it was also decided to prepare a National Environment
Strategy for effective environmental management (State Planning Organization,
1995: 19–21, 192).
This progress in environmental issues stemmed partly from the establishment of
the Ministry of Environment in 1991 by Decree Law No. 443, in Force of Law on
the Establishment and Duties of the Ministry. This is because it reorganized its
predecessor, the Undersecretariat of the Environment, becoming the organization
responsible for overall coordination of all environmental law and policies in the
country. Thus, it enabled the country to be actively involved in environment-related
concerns and challenges under the organization of a Ministry with more responsibilities and power to implement the necessary environmental policies.
2.4 From EU Candidacy (1999) to Accession Country
Status (2005)
After Turkey was declared a candidate country at the EU Summit held in Helsinki
in 1999, the next two decades witnessed significant amendments to the existing
legislation and the creation of new regulations and institutions in the field of
environmental issues in Turkey, as a result of the EU harmonization process.
In the same year that it was declared a candidate country, Turkey applied to
participate in the activities of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and
became a full member of it in 2003 on conclusion of the Accession Agreement
signed with the EU.
In accordance with the Accession Partnership Document established in 2001 by
the European Council (revised in 2003, 2006 and 2008), which drew the framework
of negotiations with Turkey for accession to the EU, the National Programme for
the Adoption of the Acquis, involving a separate section on environmental issues
(2001: 403–434) with a detailed plan and time frame for the approximation of the
national environmental legislation with the EU acquis, was prepared in 2001 (and
updated in 2003 and 2008).
In fact, in order to meet the EU’s related requirements, the EU accession process
has provided Turkey with a roadmap for the adaptation and improvement of the
environmental legislation and also its implementation, compliance and enforcement
involving certain targets that should be achieved before the accession. Thus, by the
12
Z. Savaşan
comprehensive analysis of the subject. Examples include the National Plan for In
Situ Conservation of Plant Genetic Diversity (1998) and the National
Environmental Action Plan (1999).
In the Five Year Development Plans of this period, namely the Fifth (1985–
1989), the Sixth (1990–1994) and the Seventh (1996–2000) ones, it is observed that
environmental issues were embedded in the plans in a more developed and detailed
way. In the Seventh Plan, sustainable development was adopted as one of the basic
principles and objectives and it was also decided to prepare a National Environment
Strategy for effective environmental management (State Planning Organization,
1995: 19–21, 192).
This progress in environmental issues stemmed partly from the establishment of
the Ministry of Environment in 1991 by Decree Law No. 443, in Force of Law on
the Establishment and Duties of the Ministry. This is because it reorganized its
predecessor, the Undersecretariat of the Environment, becoming the organization
responsible for overall coordination of all environmental law and policies in the
country. Thus, it enabled the country to be actively involved in environment-related
concerns and challenges under the organization of a Ministry with more responsibilities and power to implement the necessary environmental policies.
2.4 From EU Candidacy (1999) to Accession Country
Status (2005)
After Turkey was declared a candidate country at the EU Summit held in Helsinki
in 1999, the next two decades witnessed significant amendments to the existing
legislation and the creation of new regulations and institutions in the field of
environmental issues in Turkey, as a result of the EU harmonization process.
In the same year that it was declared a candidate country, Turkey applied to
participate in the activities of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and
became a full member of it in 2003 on conclusion of the Accession Agreement
signed with the EU.
In accordance with the Accession Partnership Document established in 2001 by
the European Council (revised in 2003, 2006 and 2008), which drew the framework
of negotiations with Turkey for accession to the EU, the National Programme for
the Adoption of the Acquis, involving a separate section on environmental issues
(2001: 403–434) with a detailed plan and time frame for the approximation of the
national environmental legislation with the EU acquis, was prepared in 2001 (and
updated in 2003 and 2008).
In fact, in order to meet the EU’s related requirements, the EU accession process
has provided Turkey with a roadmap for the adaptation and improvement of the
environmental legislation and also its implementation, compliance and enforcement
involving certain targets that should be achieved before the accession. Thus, by the
12
Z. Savaşan