In recent years, policies promoting the employment of persons with disabilities have gained increasing importance worldwide. Employment is a valuable opportunity to promote the integration of persons with disabilities in society while they encounter significant barriers in all aspects of social life, where they are subject to exclusion and discrimination. At this point, the importance of social policies cannot be denied in improving problem areas related to disadvantaged groups. The most common practice for the employment of disabled people is the quota system. In this sense, the examination of good practices in other countries would be crucial to develop similar practices in Turkey. The prevalence of notable measures and joint initiatives at the European Union (EU) requires a closer look into the EU member states to assess employment policies and develop policy recommendations. Thus, this study aims to examine the quota initiatives of the EU member states and present policy recommendations through a detailed discussion of quota practices in these countries. To increase the employment rate of persons with disabilities in both quantity and quality, quota practices need to be complemented by anti-discrimination policies and supported by education, training, and rehabilitation programs.
The study is based on the vulnerability of the European Union value-added tax system to value added tax fraud in today's rapidly digitalizing economy and the search for more effective ways to combat value added tax fraud by European Union member states while transitioning to the definitive value added tax system. In this context, it presents examples from practices on how the split payment mechanism can secure value added tax claims as an alternative collection method. Within this scope, the study will explain the main mechanism of the European Union value-added tax system along with the changes made, specify the causes and consequences of value added tax losses and fraud activities that arise within this system; and discuss the functionality of this mechanism with current developments to ensure that a more effective, more reliable value added tax system enables compliant taxpayers to combat value added tax fraud.
With the development of artificial intelligence (AI), its application across various fields has sparked widespread discussions. Particularly with its ability to realistically imitate human behaviors, AI has transcended its role as a mere entertainment tool. Its use in national and international politics has highlighted the AI's potential to cause disruption. This growing concern over AI's impact has prompted the European Union (EU) to lead in addressing the issue. The EU has been working on the Artificial Intelligence Law since 2018 and has supported the development of artificial intelligence, primarily for the benefit of EU citizens. However, due to the potential threats AI poses to human rights, this legislation has been designed to prevent the malicious use of current AI technologies and to safeguard against future applications that could harm human rights. This study analyzes the European Commission's proposals for the AI Law from 2018 to 2024, incorporating feedback from the European Parliament and the European Council. The analysis follows Hammersley and Atkinson's (2007) ethnographic document analysis approach. The proposals are examined through key concepts such as "democracy," "elections," and "ethics." The goal is to explore how the EU frames the relationship between artificial intelligence and democracy within the law-making process.
There are various international indices that measure the status of human rights in the world. The data provided by these indices have made it possible to conduct systematic comparative analysis on human rights. This study aims to make such a comparison specifically for Europe's hybrid regimes and focuses on 8 countries in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo). The analysis is based on the human rights assessments of these countries in the 2017-2024 reports of the Freedom House's Freedom in the World Index. A comparative examination of the decline, progress or stagnation of this group of countries in terms of human rights will shed light on the literature discussing the possible reasons for these transformations. All of these countries are continuing their integration processes with the European Union (EU) at various levels. In this context, some internal dynamics of the countries subject to this study and the impact of EU processes on the protection of human rights in these countries will be examined comparatively.
This study examines the electoral defeat of Poland's Law and Justice Party (PiS) and its significance for the future of right-wing populism in Poland and Europe. Utilising a comprehensive approach, it explores the populist policies implemented by the PiS, the historical background of the Polish elections, and the potential impact of the central coalition's electoral success on countering PiS populism. The article argues that while PiS's defeat signals a victory for Polish democracy and pluralism, the structural factors driving populism-such as economic inequality, regional disparities, and identity concerns-require ongoing, targeted attention to prevent a resurgence. The findings suggest that addressing these factors is crucial for sustaining Poland's commitment to pluralistic values. This research contributes to understanding populism's rise and the dynamics of political change in Poland, offering insights into broader European political trends.
In this study, The Nationalist Movement Party and The Good Party's approaches toward foreign policy are analyzed comparatively in terms of NATO and the EU issues. In this context, the speeches made by the leaders of both parties in their group meetings in the parliament in 2023 were analyzed through quantitative and qualitative content analysis. The study asserts the following arguments: (I) In his criticism of NATO and the EU, Bahceli takes a more aggressive stance and produces social-Darwinist discourses when compared to Aksener. (II) However, Bahceli's attitude is not based on a principled and ideological opposition to these organisations; it stems only from the discomfort caused by the decisions taken by NATO and the EU on the issues concerning Turkey or conjunctural problems.
This paper is an effort to review the change in the legal regulations of the European Union (EU) towards Arctic Region, which is important in terms of climate change studies, and to consider its contributions towards the green transformation and reducing the effects of climate change in the Arctic Region based on EU law. In this context, the research question was examined in two parts. In the first part, the change in the regulations of the EU based on the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal is discussed within the framework of the EU law. In the second part, it is analyzed how the EU tries to expand the sphere of its influences in the Arctic Council through its Member States in combating climate change from a legal perspective. As a result, the research finds out that the EU encourages all the actions in the Arctic Region to be based on the Paris Agreement by following a stable legal framework in achieving the reducement of greenhouse gas emisssions targets in the Arctic Region, on the grounds of the Paris Agreement and the rules in acquis communautaire.
This article provides an in-depth analysis of the digital transformation of public administration in European Union (EU) member states, emphasizing its strategic role in the process of European integration. Digital transformation is seen as a critical process for modernizing public services, enhancing efficiency, and reducing costs. The article thoroughly examines the EU's digital strategies, technology integration, and innovation management, detailing how digital transformation has reshaped public administration within the EU. It also addresses the challenges and adaptation issues that digitalization has introduced, offering recommendations for improving the EU's digital strategies. The article further explores the role of digital transformation in European integration, focusing on its effects on the EU's policies, operational processes, and governance approaches. It underscores the potential of digitalization to support harmonization across Europe, promote a more transparent and accountable governance model, enable a more effective policy-making process. The article also presents visions for the future of digital transformation, discussing the integration of technological innovations and the development of existing digital strategies. In conclusion, the article comprehensively examines the current state of the EU's digital transformation process, potential future developments, and the impact of this transformation on European integration, offering significant insights for policymakers and the academic community.
Bu çalışmada, Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi ve İYİ Parti’nin dış politikaya yönelik yaklaşımları, NATO ve AB konuları özelinde karşılaştırmalı olarak ele alınmaktadır. Bu kapsamda, 2023 yılı boyunca MHP ve İYİ Parti genel başkanlarının meclisteki grup toplantılarında yaptıkları konuşmalar, nicel ve nitel içerik analiziyle incelenmiştir. Çalışmada, sonuç olarak şu argümanlar öne sürülmektedir: (I) Her iki kuruluşa yönelik eleştirilerinde Bahçeli, Akşener’den daha sert bir tavır sergilemekte ve sosyal-Darwinist içerikte söylemler üretmektedir. (II) Ancak Bahçeli’nin bu tavrı, bu kuruluşlara yönelik ilkesel ve ideolojik bir karşıtlığa dayanmamakta; sadece, NATO ve AB’nin Türkiye’ye yönelik meselelerde aldığı kararlara dair veya konjonktürel nitelikteki rahatsızlıklardan kaynaklanmaktadır.
Son yıllarda dünya genelinde engelli istihdam politikaları büyük bir önem kazanmıştır. İstihdam, engelli bireylerin topluma entegrasyonunun sağlanması için değerli bir fırsattır, ancak engelli bireyler her alanda olduğu gibi istihdam alanında da önemli engellerle karşılaşmakta, önyargılar, dışlanma ve ayrımcılığa maruz kalmaktadırlar. Bu noktada dezavantajlı gruplara ilişkin sorun alanlarında iyileştirmeler yapılması amacıyla uygulanması yönüyle sosyal politikaların önemi yadsınamaz. Engelli istihdamına yönelik en yaygın uygulama ise kota sistemidir. Bu anlamda dünyadaki başarılı örneklerin incelenmesi, Türkiye için benzer uygulamaların geliştirilebilmesi için önem taşımaktadır. Avrupa Birliği’nde (AB) engelli bireylerin topluma katılımı ve istihdamı yönünde dikkate değer uygulamaların ve ortak çalışmaların bulunması, engelli istihdam politikalarının değerlendirilmesi ve politika önerileri üretilmesi açısından AB ülkelerinin mercek altına alınmasını gerektirmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Avrupa Birliği üye ülkelerinin kota uygulaması pratiklerini incelemek ve kota uygulamasının bu ülkelerdeki durumunun tartışılması yolu ile politika önerileri sunmaktır. Kota uygulaması tüm ülkeler için geçerli standart özelliklere sahip bir uygulama önerisi olmaktan çok, ülkeye özgü bir planlama dahilinde kullanılması düşünülebilecek bir sistem önerisi olarak değerlendirilebilir. Engelli istihdamının hem nicelik hem de nitelik açısından artırılması için kota uygulamasının ayrımcılık karşıtı tamamlayıcı politikalarla desteklenmesi, ayrıca eğitim ve rehabilitasyon programlarından sıklıkla yararlanılması faydalı olacaktır.
Dünyada insan haklarının durumunu ölçen çeşitli uluslararası endeksler bulunmaktadır. Bu endekslerin sunduğu veriler insan hakları üzerine sistematik karşılaştırmalı analizler yapmayı olanaklı hale getirmiştir. Böyle bir karşılaştırmayı Avrupa’nın hibrid rejimleri özelinde yapmayı hedefleyen bu çalışma, Batı Balkanlar ve Doğu Avrupa’da yer alan 8 ülkeye (Sırbistan, Bosna-Hersek, Karadağ, Ukrayna, Moldova, Kuzey Makedonya, Arnavutluk ve Kosova) odaklanmakta ve Özgürlük Evi’nin Dünyada Özgürlükler (Freedom in the World) endeksinin 2017-2024 raporlarında bu ülkelerle ilgili insan hakları boyutundaki değerlendirmeleri baz almaktadır. Bu ülke grubunun insan hakları açısından gösterdikleri gerileme, ilerleme veya durağanlığın karşılaştırmalı olarak incelenmesi, bu dönüşümlerin muhtemel nedenlerini tartışan literatüre ışık tutacaktır. Bu ülkelerin tamamının Avrupa Birliği (AB) ile çeşitli seviyelerde entegrasyon süreçleri devam etmektedir. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışmaya konu olan ülkelerin bazı içsel dinamikleri ile AB süreçlerinin, bu ülkelerde insan haklarının korunmasına etkisi karşılaştırmalı olarak mercek altına alınacaktır.
This study aims to determine whether migrants from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Ukraine have received comparable treatment in Hungary and Poland by analyzing the speeches delivered by Polish President Andrzej Duda and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Using critical discourse analysis, it reveals the meaning behind Duda's and Orban's statements about these two immigrant groups. The study indicates that Duda and Orban securitized MENA immigration groups and represented them as others. Duda and Orban, on the other hand, place a strong emphasis on solidarity and providing humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian migrants. The critical social constructivist theory, which stresses the concept of identity and meaning in response to difference, has been employed in the study to analyze how migrants from the MENA region are perceived as "other", whilst migrants from Ukraine are seen as a part of "us".
This study examines the European Union's Green Deal as an international legal instrument, analysing its potential hegemonic impact on developing and least developed countries. While the Green Deal aims to promote environmental sustainability, its extraterritorial effects raise concerns about justice and the perpetuation of historical and economic inequalities. Framed within critical legal studies, the analysis highlights how the Green Deal's ambitious standards and regulatory frameworks impose disproportionate burdens on countries with limited institutional and financial capacities, perpetuating 'climate colonialism'. The EU's reliance on resource extraction from vulnerable regions underscores persistent global inequalities, while initiatives like the Common Ground Taxonomy demonstrate how environmental policies can reinforce economic dominance and marginalise smaller states. Despite its sustainability goals, the Green Deal risks exacerbating developmental injustices by privileging the interests of industrialised economies over equitable global cooperation. The study advocates for reforming the Green Deal through an equity-focused lens, emphasising financial and technological support, reparative mechanisms for historical injustices, and inclusive compliance timelines. By addressing these structural inequalities, the EU can transform its Green Deal into a fair and collaborative model of sustainability. Failure to adopt such reforms risks reducing it to a tool of economic hegemony rather than a framework for collective environmental progress.
The European Union (EU) has consistently incorporated environmental considerations into its policies, particularly since the Amsterdam Treaty (1999), which mandates the integration of environmental protection into all EU policies to promote sustainable development. One such policy is the EU's Common Commercial Policy (CCP), which underpins its external trade law and must align with sustainable development objectives. Notably, since the 2010s, the EU has integrated sustainable development and environmental considerations into its unilateral (e. g., Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)), bilateral (e.g., New Generation Free Trade Agreements (NGFTAs)), and multilateral (e.g., efforts within the World Trade Organisation (WTO)) trade instruments. Grounded in legal methodology, this manuscript examines why and how the EU has incorporated these considerations into the CCP across different layers: unilateral, bilateral, and multilateral. It demonstrates that, while the EU's pursuit of environmental objectives is evident across all layers, it is more pronounced in unilateral and bilateral instruments compared to multilateral ones. Furthermore, it reveals that the relevant legal frameworks have evolved in scope and depth, with notable improvements in the mechanisms for their implementation and enforcement.
The European Union (EU) has consistently positioned itself as a committed normative power, dedicated to the promotion of liberal democratic values both within its borders and beyond. In this context, promotion of democracy stands as a fundamental objective of its foreign policy, and it leverages a variety of tools to exert influence. The post-Socialist Balkans serves as a critical testing ground for the EU's efforts in this domain. Since the early 2000s, the Union has embarked on a dual process of Europeanisation and post-conflict transformation within the region where the state of democracy remains still problematic. This article provides an evaluation of the EU's democracy promotion policy in the Republic of Serbia. Recognizing the EU’s limited success in democratizing the Republic of Serbia, it delves into the underlying reasons for the shortcomings. The analysis posits that the EU's failure in Serbia can be attributed to three primary factors: an inconsistent approach, a shifting focus during crises, and the impact of opportunistic actors.
Bu araştırmada iklim değişikliği çalışmaları açısından önem arz eden Arktik Bölgesi’ne yönelik olarak Avrupa Birliği’nin izlediği politikalardaki değişim ile Arktik Bölgesi’ndeki yeşil dönüşüme ve iklim değişikliğinin etkilerinin azaltılmasına yönelik olarak sağlayabileceği katkılar değerlendirilmektedir. Bu çerçevede, çalışma sorusu iki bölümde incelenmiştir. Birinci bölümde Paris İklim Anlaşması ve Avrupa Yeşil Mutabakatı temelinde, Avrupa Birliği’nin Arktik Bölgesi’ne yönelik olarak stratejilerindeki değişim ele alınmıştır. İkinci bölümde ise, Avrupa Birliği’nin Arktik Konseyi’nde bulunan üye devletleri aracılığıyla Arktik Bölgesi’ndeki iklim değişikliği ile mücadelede etki alanını nasıl genişletmeye çalıştığı araştırılmıştır. Elde edilen neticede Avrupa Birliği’nin Paris İklim Anlaşması ve AB müktesebatındaki kurallar temelinde Arktik Bölgesi’neki yeşil dönüşüm hedeflerini elde etmede istikrarlı bir politika izleyerek ilgili bütün tarafları eylem almaya teşvik ettiği görülmektedir.
This study examines the electoral defeat of Poland’s Law and Justice Party (PiS) and its significance for the future of right-wing populism in Poland and Europe. Utilising a comprehensive approach, it explores the populist policies implemented by PiS, the historical background of Polish elections, and the potential impact of the central coalition's electoral success on countering PiS populism. The article argues that while PiS's defeat signals a victory for Polish democracy and pluralism, the structural factors driving populism require ongoing attention. The findings suggest that addressing these factors is crucial for sustaining Poland’s commitment to pluralistic values. This research contributes to understanding populism's rise and the dynamics of political change in Poland, offering insights into broader European political trends.
Yapay zekânın gelişmeye başlaması ile birlikte farklı alanlarda kullanımı, yapay zekâ ya yönelik tartışmaları da beraberinde getirmiştir. Özellikle insanları gerçekçi derecede taklit edebilme yeteneği ile birlikte, yapay zekâ eğlence aracı olmaktan öteye geçmiştir. Bir taraftan ulusal siyaset diğer taraftan uluslararası siyasette kullanımı yapay zekânın kaos yaratabilme potansiyelini de ortaya çıkarmıştır. Yapay zekâya yönelik olarak bu durumun ortaya çıkarılması ve bu konu üzerine çalışmalar yapması Avrupa Birliği’ni (AB) bu konuda lider konuma getirmiştir. AB Yapay Zekâ Yasası için 2018 yılından bu yana çalışmalar yürütmüş ve bu çalışmaları öncelikle AB vatandaşlarının yararına kullanılacak şekilde yapay zekânın gelişmesini desteklemiştir. Fakat yapay zekânın “insan haklarına” verdiği tehditler sebebi ile var olan yapay zekâ uygulamalarının kötü niyetli kullanımını engellemek ve gelişecek olan yapay zekâ uygulamalarının “insan haklarına” zarar vermesini önlemek adına AB Yapay Zekâ Yasası ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu çalışmada, 2018-2024 yılları arasında yasa ile ilgili Avrupa Komisyonu’nun Avrupa Parlamentosu ve Avrupa Konseyinden gelen geri bildirimler üzerine oluşturduğu teklifler incelenmiştir. Bu incelemede Hammersley ve Atkinson'un (2007) etnografik belge inceleme yaklaşımından faydalanılmıştır. Bu teklifler “demokrasi”, “seçimler”, “etik” anahtar kavramları taratılarak incelenmeye alınmıştır. Bu sayede AB’nin yasa oluşturma sürecinde yapay zekâ ve demokrasi ilişkisini nasıl yorumladığı açıklanmaya çalışılacaktır.
The article examines, within the context of compatibility with the autonomy of the EU legal order of dispute settlement mechanisms established or designated by agreements, the boundaries of jurisdiction of international courts/tribunals drawn by the CJEU under EU law with their grounds in the preservation of external autonomy of the EU legal order against the international legal system and international courts. It draws attention to the balance to be struck between the objectives of protection of specific characteristics of EU law and the autonomy of the EU legal order, and giving the EU, within the context of international law requirements, more leeway to interact with other international law subjects with the purpose of making international agreements establishing or designating dispute settlement mechanisms. It is emphasised that the excessively broad scope of the exclusive jurisdiction of the CJEU and so correlatively the narrower scope of jurisdiction of international courts/tribunals would make the EU prisoner of its autonomy with the consequence of while being an isolated judicial monster in its ivory tower, a rather modest international actor in the construction of a more rule-oriented international legal system.
Çalışma, hızla dijitalleşen günümüz ekonomisinde, Avrupa Birliği katma değer vergisi sisteminin kaçakçılığa karşı savunmasız kalması ile nihai katma değer vergisi sistemine geçerken; Avrupa Birliği üye devletlerinin katma değer vergisi kaçakçılığı ile mücadelede daha etkin yolları araştırmasına dayanmakta ve alternatif tahsilat yöntemlerinden bölünmüş ödeme mekanizması (split payment mechanism) ile katma değer vergisi alacağının güvence altına alınabileceğine yönelik uygulamalardan örnekler vermektedir. Bu kapsamda çalışmada, Avrupa Birliği katma değer vergisi sisteminin ana mekanizması yapılan değişikliklerle birlikte açıklanacak, bu sistem içerisinde ortaya çıkan katma değer vergisindeki kayıp ve kaçakçılık faaliyetlerine yönelik sebep ve sonuçlar belirtilecek; daha etkin, daha güvenilir bir katma değer vergisi sistemi ile vergiye uyumlu mükelleflerin katma değer vergisi kaçakçılığı ile mücadele edebilmesi adına bu mekanizmanın işlerliği güncel gelişmelerle birlikte ortaya konulacaktır.
