The Policy and Efficiency Analysis of EU Pre-Accession Funds in Turkey

Abstract

This article focuses on multi level governance (MLG) in Turkey by examining EU pre-accession funds by developing an interdisciplinary, multidimensional approach integrating vertical and horizontal relations at different levels of governance with the main principles (concentration; programming; partnership and additionality) of EU structural funds. It analyzes the dual governance structure on the efficient utilization of EU funds allocated to 191 municipality and local authority projects executed under two calls covering seven NUTS II regions and twenty cities in Turkey and demonstrates the differences in efficiency levels by using an empirical approach. Results show that pre-accession funds promote the formation of an EU-model MLG structure by generating new forms of relations among the authorities at different levels.
 
 KEYWORDS: • multi-level governance • efficiency analysis • DEA • EU pre-accession funds • Turkey