Turkey's Influence as a Third Country on the European Union: From Association to a Key Partner

Turkey represents a unique case for the European Union (EU) as a third country. Turkey's long standing institutionalized association with the EU furnished Turkey with formal and informal access to the EU. These access points, together with its structural power and bilateral relations with Member States shape the modalities of its influence. This article proposes that Turkish influence as a third country evolved with the interplay of its access to EU institutions and structural power. Turkey has different modes of access to EU which range from formal institutions and EU Agencies to its bilateral relations and its membership in institutions such as NATO. The article's empirical discussions identify how Turkey's influence as a third country on the EU policies is driven by this interplay of access and power, uncovering its role in different policy areas. Finally, Turkey's influence is visible in setting precedents for the EU's relations with other third countries.