Reimagining Security: New Horizons for EU-Tukey Cooperation in an Era of Polycrisis
Reimagining Security: New Horizons for EU-Tukey Cooperation in an Era of Polycrisis
2025 marks 20 years since Turkey began EU membership talks. Since then, global dynamics have shifted dramatically; Russia’s war on Ukraine, China’s rise, U.S. disengagement from Europe, and instability in the Middle East, alongside climate change, cyber threats, and disinformation are a few examples of the polycrisis we are experiencing and the many emerging security challenges. Stalled EU-Turkey talks strained political relations and the fact that security discourses in Turkey are strongly shaped by regime-centric imperatives has complicated cooperation in many security-related areas. This project aims to broaden the lens and explore avenues for security cooperation between Turkey and the European Union (EU) beyond classical hard-security issues. It employs a comprehensive, bottom-up, and forward-looking research strategy informed by critical security studies and strategic foresight methods, including horizon scanning and scenario building in collaboration with experts across diverse sectors. Findings will appear in a publication and be shared through events in Istanbul, Vienna, Brussels, and Berlin. Aligned with Stiftung Mercator’s “Europe in the World” program, the project promotes realistic, inclusive, and forward-looking EU–Turkey engagement.
Funded by: Mercator Stiftung
Duration: November 2025- July 2026
Project Lead: Cengiz Günay, Ceren Çetinkaya