JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS: EUROPEANIZATION OF TURKISH ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION POLICY IN THE LIGHT OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

European Union is on the way to developing a distinctive regime of policy over asylum and immigration. As in the case of Central and Eastern European enlargement, Turkey is expected to adopt this regime fully as a precondition for full EU membership. However, this transformation process has some negative externalities for Turkey. CEECs and Turkey gradually are gradually turning out to be buffer states around the core of a 'European Fortress', which is being tried to be shaped. Concomitantly, harmonization process also includes positive aspects, especially over human rights issues. For a successful transformation, EU technical and financial assistance will be crucial. On the other hand, Turkish officials should speed up their efforts to incorporate JHA acquis in order to prevent divergences in practice in the future.