ANALYSIS ON THE DAIRY SECTOR OF GREECE IN THE EU ACCESSION PERIOD AND EVALUATION FROM THE ASPECT OF TURKEY

Abstract

This study aims to uncover the effects that Turkey's possible full membership to the EU would likely to bring about in the dairy industry, through investigating how Greece was affected by the structural and political developments on the OTP Milk and dairy products market regulations during the negotiation process that started with its membership to the European Economic Community. In the long-running journey to the European Union, it is not yet possible to pinpoint exactly where Turkey is on the road. There are huge differences between the EU's road map on accession drawn for Greece forty years ago and the road map required to be pursued by Turkey today. During its accession period, Greece has been one of the countries that has benefited the most from the EU's three major funds; the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. As for today and as per the experiences of the candidate countries involved in the recent enlargement process of the EU, it seems that financial support and demands of most of these candidates have not been accepted by the Union. Consequently, it is clear that Turkey will benefit from high financial resources in the event of possible membership to the European Union and thus solve its rural infrastructure problems will no longer be an easy option. Because although the EU's expectations from Turkey are high, the funds allocated by the commission will unfortunately be limited. Within the process of becoming a member to the European Union, Turkey should almost immediately set the goals expected to be achieve in the dairy sector and secure the financial support it needs by producing strategically strong fiscal policies.