The opening speech of the “Marmara Conference on European Studies-2020 / Debating Europe: Past, Present and Future” event, which was organized in cooperation with IKV and TUNAECS and coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. İmre Ersoy on February 7-8, 2020 and dedicated to the dear memory of Prof. Dr. Dominik Lasok, who taught at our Institute from its establishment until 1996, was delivered by IKV President Ayhan Zeytinoğlu on February 7, 2020 at the Occidental Taksim Hotel.

The invited speaker of the conference and the son of Prof. Dr. Dominik Lasok, Dr. Paul Lasok, delivered his speech titled “Debating Europe: Past, Present and Future” under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Halûk Kabaâlioğlu, who refreshed the memories of Prof. Dr. Dominik Lasok.

Following the opening session, Assoc. The first panel titled Emerging Issues in European Security, chaired by Zuhal Mert Uzuner, has started. In the first panel, Dr. Lecturer Itır Toksöz from Doğuş University made her presentation titled “United Space in Europe: ESA in EU Integration and CFSP”. The panel continued with the presentation titled “The Role and Importance of Renewable Energy in the Free Trade Agreements of the European Union” by the second speaker Av. Halil Çeçen and concluded with the paper titled “Environmental Security: Cyprus at the Crossroads of Europe” by Dr. Lecturer Emine Eminel Sülün and Dr. Lecturer Zehra Azizbeyli from Near East University.

Simultaneously, in the panel titled Problems and Solutions within the Framework of EU Association Law, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlke Göçmen made a presentation titled “To What Extent Can Partnership Law Provide a Solution to the Problems of Road Transport?” Subsequently, the session was concluded with a presentation titled “Evaluation of European Union Partnership Agreements within the Scope of International Law” by Jonida Begaj from Marin Barleti University.

After the lunch break of the first day of the conference, in the session titled The EU As a Security Actor chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Catherine MacMillan from Yeditepe University, Rasheed Ibrahim from Sabancı University made a presentation titled “The EU as a Security Actor in Africa: the Case of Sahel Mali”. The session continued with a presentation titled “Conflict Resolution through Enlargement but without Membership?” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Sayan from Beykoz University and was followed by a presentation titled “Conflict Resolution through Enlargement but without Membership?” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. The session ended with a paper titled “Role of the EU for Security and Cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean” by Zuhal Mert Uzuner.

The panel titled Qualitative Research in Political Communication, which was held simultaneously, began with a paper titled “Public Sphere Discussions on the Economic Dimension of the Brexit Process” presented jointly by Haliç University Assistant Professor Dilhan Apak, Dokuz Eylül University EU Center Expert Sadık Demirbağ and Yaşar University Assoc. Prof. Huriye Toker. It ended with a presentation titled “The Rise of Anti-Immigration Policies in Europe and Its Reflection in the International Media: The Example of Euronews” by Assistant Professor Dilhan Apak.

The third session of the conference was titled Rising Populism, Xenophobia and Euro-Scepticism and was chaired by Doğuş University Assistant Professor Fulya Hisarlıoğlu. Assoc. Prof. Dr. The session, which began with a paper titled “Rising Fusion of Populism and Euroscepticism in Italy: The Case of The League” by Selcen Öner, continued with a presentation titled “The Reflections of Upsurging Xenophobia on European Parliament Elections” by N. Aslı Şirin, Assistant Professor at the M.Ü. Institute of European Studies. Following the presentation titled “Brexit and Xenophobia: A Retreat of British Multiculturalism?” jointly prepared by H. Deniz Genç, Assistant Professor at Medipol University, and Zekeriya Tüzen, Assistant Professor at Bahçeşehir University, the session continued with a paper titled “Progressive Politics: The Way Forward for the EU?” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suna Gülfer Ihlamur Öner, Assistant Professor at Marmara University. The session ended with “Lords of Misrule? The session ended with the paper titled “Carnivalesque Populism in the Brexit Discourse of Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson”.

The session, which was held simultaneously in the Small Hall and chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. T. Mesut Eren, was titled EU-Turkey Relations and Other EU Topics and the first paper was the presentation titled “Analysis of the Effects of the Erasmus Plus KA2 Programme on the Labour Market in the European Union” jointly prepared by Prof. Dr. Hale Balseven, Dr. Lecturer Mustafa Çoban and Dr. Lecturer Figen Ceylan from Akdeniz University. The session continued with the presentation titled “Behavioral Public Policy Applications in the European Union” by Kübra Ecer from the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Directorate of Communications. The session was presented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mesut Eren, faculty member of the M.U. Institute of European Studies, on “EU-Turkey-Customs Union's XXIV. Following the paper titled “Possible Violation of Article 10 and Its Consequences”, a presentation titled “The Changing Trade Strategy of the European Union in the Context of Normative Power” was made by Ali Kıncal from Dokuz Eylül University and Özge Bozkaya from Yaşar University. The session ended with the presentation titled “The Effects of the European Banking Union on the Banking Performance of Central and Eastern European Countries” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sevgi İneci from Galatasaray University.

The conference continued after the coffee break and in the 4th session chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alper Kaliber from Altınbaş University, a presentation titled “Can the EU be more capable? Assessing the role of the EU’s institutions in defence capability development” was made by Dr. Theofanis Exadaktylos from Surrey University and Prof. Dr. Münevver Cebeci from M.Ü. European Research Institute gave a presentation titled “Quo Vadis Common Security and Defence Policy? The session continued with the presentation titled “Revisiting the major debates in European Security”. Following the paper titled “CSDP and Gender Mainstreaming: UNSCR 1325 and The EU” by Ece Mozakoğlu, PhD candidate at the M.Ü. European Research Institute, the session ended with the presentation titled “UK-EU Military Cooperation and Brexit: A Neoclassical Realist Perspective” by Veli Özdemir, another PhD candidate at the M.Ü. European Research Institute.

Simultaneously, in the session titled Multiculturalism, Migration and Minority Rights in EU Policies, which was held in the Small Hall and chaired by Dr. Lecturer Aslı Şirin, Dr. Lecturer Nihan Akıncılar Köseoğlu, a faculty member at Fenerbahçe University, presented her paper titled “Minority Rights on the Path to EU Membership: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia”. Then, Yusuf Ertuğral from Euro Politics Magazine contributed with his presentation titled “Post-Brexit Britain’s Scotland Problem and Its Impact on EU’s (Multicultural) Minority Policies”. The session continued with the paper titled “The Role of Refugees in the Future of the European Union” presented by Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University faculty member Dr. Serpil Bardakçı Tosun, and the presentation titled “The Impact of the Refugee Crisis on Germany’s Domestic Policy” by M.Ü European Research Institute PhD student Celil Batur, and the session ended with the presentation titled “The Concept of Self-Determination and Catalonia as a Case Study in the European Union” presented by Sakarya University Dr. Filiz Cicioğlu and PhD student Yeşim Bayram.

When the first day of MCES-2020 came to an end, Assoc. In the last session titled Democracy, Democratization and Identity in Europe, which was chaired by Armağan Emre Çakır, the first paper was given by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alper Kaliber with the title “From De-Europeanization to Anti-Westernism: Turkish Foreign Policy in Flux”. The session continued with the presentation titled “With or Without You: The Shift in Discourses of Identity in the EU-Turkey Relationship” by Erman Ermihan, a PhD student from Kadir Has University, and ended with the presentation titled “Understanding Democratic Backsliding in the EU Member-State. A Case Study of Poland” by Slawomira Mysiak from Portsmouth University.

In the session titled Populism and the Rise of the Extreme Right in Europe, which was simultaneously ongoing in the Small Hall and chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Selcen Öner, the first speaker was Dr. Lecturer The session began with a presentation titled “Populist Securitization: Understanding Brexit and Rising Euroskepticism in the EU” by Fulya Hisarlıoğlu, a member of the European University of Lefke. The session continued with a presentation titled “Rising Euroscepticism in the European Union” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ebru Oğurlu, a faculty member of the European University of Lefke. The session ended with a presentation titled “The Future of the EU in the Context of Far-Right Populism – Discourse Analysis in the AfD Example” by Erdem Tekçi, a student at Ankara University. The first day sessions ended with a paper titled “The Instrumentalization of Fear by Right-Wing Populism in Europe: The Example of Germany” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yonca Özer, a faculty member of the M.Ü. Institute of European Studies, and Fatmanur Kaçar, a research assistant and doctoral candidate.

The second day of the conference, on February 8, 2020, started with the theme of Current Debates in European Foreign Policy under the moderation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beken Saatçioğlu, faculty member of MEF University, in the Great Hall. The first session was held with the presentation titled “Fortress Europe” or Not? The European Union’s Security Policies on Migration” by Merve Önal, a PhD student at Kadir Has University, and the session continued with the paper titled “Backdoor Democratization? The EU’s Migration Management in the Eastern Neighborhood” by Dr. Fulya Akgül Durakçay from Dokuz Eylül University. Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrem Aşkar Karakır from Dokuz Eylül University presented “The European Union’s Post-Arab Spring Democracy Promotion in the Middle East: A Missed Opportunity?” Following his paper titled “Beyond National Governments: Explaining Foreign Policy Referendums in Europe” by Nanuli Silagadze, a PhD candidate from Åbo Academy University, the session ended with his presentation titled “Beyond National Governments: Explaining Foreign Policy Referendums in Europe”.

Simultaneously, the session titled “Law with and without the EU” was held in the Small Hall and started with the paper titled “The Effect of Withdrawal from EU Membership on the Domestic Legal System: An Analysis Based on the Brexit Example” by Prof. Dr. Sanem Baykal, a TOBB-ETU faculty member who also chaired the session, and continued with the presentation titled “European Ethical Charter on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Judicial Systems” by Marmara University PhD student Av. Gizem Yılmaz. The session ended with the paper titled “Agency Movement as a New Law Creation Tool in the European Union” by Ege Okakın Erbaş, a Research Assistant at Dokuz Eylül University.

The second session of the second day, under the theme of The EU’s Enlargement Policy, opened in the Great Hall with a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hatice Yazgan from Çankırı Karatekin University titled “Challenges of European Union (EU) Enlargement: Interplay Between the EU Institutions and the Member States” under the moderation of Dr. Lecturer Aslı Şirin. The session continued with the paper “Enlargement Policy in Flux: EU-Turkey-Western Balkans Relations” by Dr. Lecturer Damla Cihangir Tetik from Ayvansaray University and the session ended with the presentation “Regaining the influence: Turkish Cooperation Initiatives in the Balkans” by Jan Pawel Niemiec from Jagiellonian University. Following the paper “All Water under the Bridge: The Interaction between Turkey’s Relations with the US and with the EU” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Armağan Emre Çakır, Dr. The session ended with Sinem Bal’s presentation titled “Refugee Women As The Neglected Subjects of The EU-Turkey Relations”.

The second day of the conference, on February 8, 2020, started with the theme of Current Debates in European Foreign Policy under the moderation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beken Saatçioğlu, faculty member of MEF University, in the Great Hall. The first session was held with the presentation titled “Fortress Europe” or Not? The European Union’s Security Policies on Migration” by Merve Önal, a PhD student at Kadir Has University, and the session continued with the paper titled “Backdoor Democratization? The EU’s Migration Management in the Eastern Neighborhood” by Dr. Fulya Akgül Durakçay from Dokuz Eylül University. Assoc. Prof. Dr. İrem Aşkar Karakır from Dokuz Eylül University presented “The European Union’s Post-Arab Spring Democracy Promotion in the Middle East: A Missed Opportunity?” Following his paper titled “Beyond National Governments: Explaining Foreign Policy Referendums in Europe” by Nanuli Silagadze, a PhD candidate from Åbo Akademi University, the session ended with his presentation titled “Beyond National Governments: Explaining Foreign Policy Referendums in Europe”.

Simultaneously, the session titled “Law with and without the EU” was held in the Small Hall and started with the paper titled “The Effect of Withdrawal from EU Membership on the Domestic Legal System: An Analysis Based on the Brexit Example” by Prof. Dr. Sanem Baykal, a TOBB-ETU faculty member who also chaired the session, and continued with the presentation titled “European Ethical Charter on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Judicial Systems” by Marmara University PhD student Av. Gizem Yılmaz. The session ended with the paper titled “Agency Movement as a New Law Creation Tool in the European Union” by Ege Okakın Erbaş, a Research Assistant at Dokuz Eylül University.

The session titled Public Diplomacy and Lobbying, which was held simultaneously in the Small Hall, was chaired by Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Gençkaya from Marmara University and gave a presentation titled “Lobbying, Transparency and Public Decision-Making Process in the European Context: Some Preliminary Observations on the Regulatory Framework.” Following the paper titled “Lobbying Activities of Interest Groups in Turkey’s European Union Membership Process” by ITU faculty member Dr. Alper Yurttaş, the session ended with the presentation titled “Public Diplomacy of the European Union from Lisbon to Global Strategy” by Dr. Çiğdem Şahin from Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University.

After the coffee break, Assoc. Prof. Dr. The panel chaired by Başak Alpan and carrying the theme of Turkey-EU Relations started in the Great Hall and the first paper was delivered with the presentation titled “The European Parliament’s Views on Turkey’s Migration Policy (2011-2018)” by Melek Özlem Ayas, Research Assistant at Beykent University. The session titled “EU-Turkey Relations from an Academic Perspective: Theoretical, Methodological and Thematic Transformation” jointly prepared by Dr. Ebru Turhan from the Turkish-German University and Dr. Rahime Süleymanoğlu Kürüm from İstanbul Gedik University continued and the session ended with the presentation titled “The Approach of the National Vision Movement to the EU in the 20th Century: The Discovery of the EU in the Journey from the Periphery to the Center” by Efe Can Müderrisoğlu, Research Assistant at Doğuş University. Assoc. Following H. Kutay Aytuğ’s paper titled “Institutional Transformation in the Negotiation Process: Ombudsman Institution”, the session ended with Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University faculty member Prof. Dr. Haydar Efe’s presentation titled “Criticisms Directed at Turkey Progress Reports Under the Title of EU Foreign, Security and Defense Policy”.

Following the presentation titled “Active Social Policies in Turkey and Spain & the Perception of Social Responsibilities” by Ankara University PhD candidate Bilge Filiz, who also chaired the session and was simultaneously held in the Küçük Hall with the theme of EU Policies and Quantitative Studies on the EU, Istanbul 29 Mayıs University student Oğuzhan Barçın presented his paper titled “The Impact of Populism and Nationalism on Common Agricultural Policy”. Dr. Lecturer from Amasya University Member Oğuz Güner contributed with his presentation titled “A Comparison of the European Union Countries’ Levels of Digital Public Services”, while Dr. Hasan Tekin from Bradford University made presentations titled “Agency Costs and Dividend Policies of European Firms” and “Optimal Leverage of Travel and Leisure Firms in Europe”

In the panel series that continued without a break, the session titled Current Issues in Transatlantic Relations was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Armağan Emre Çakır in the Great Hall, and the first speaker was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bardakçı, a faculty member at Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University, and he made a presentation titled “Transatlantic Relations in the Trump Era”. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sinem Kocamaz contributed with a paper titled “European Union-US Relations in the Period of Crisis, Uncertainty and Systemic Transformation” and the session ended with a presentation titled “Turkey’s Position in EU-US Relations” by Yiğit Yavuz, a student at the same university.

Dr. Lecturer Nevra Esentürk, a faculty member at Yalova University who also chaired the Small Hall session titled EU’s Economic Relations, made a presentation titled “The Role of the EU in Multilateral Development Cooperation: Challenges and Limitations in Times of Crises”. The session continued with a paper titled “The EU Trade Policy in the Age of New Protectionism: Implications for the Future of Common Commercial Policy” jointly prepared by Prof. Dr. Utku Utkulu, faculty member at Dokuz Eylül University, and his doctoral student Ali Kıncal. The session ended with the paper titled “The Future of the EU-China Economic Relations” presented by Pantea M. Zanganeh, a PhD student from Tehran University.

The last panel of the day, which was simultaneously held in the Small Hall with the theme of the EU’s Security Actorship and chaired by Prof. Dr. Münevver Cebeci, started with the presentation titled “International Terrorism and the Effectiveness of the EU’s Methods of Combating International Terrorism” by Dr. Omca Altın from Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University. Following the paper titled “The European Union as a Liberal Actor: An Example of Unity for the Mediterranean” by Marmara University student and PhD candidate Büşra Kılıç, the session ended with the presentation titled “The Use of Soft Power by the European Union: The Tenth Year of the Eastern Partnership” by Dr. Esra Erol Ergan from Istanbul University.

The closing speech of the Marmara Conference on European Studies-2020 event was given by Prof. Dr. Thomas Diez from the University of Tübingen as an Invited Speaker/Keynote Speaker under the title of “The EU in a Changing World Order: In Defence of Normative Power 2.0” and it is hoped that the conference will be repeated in the following years as it attracted great attention as in 2018.