Differentiation, Brexit and EU-Turkey Relations

Differentiation can be the result of both integration and disintegration processes in the EU. Whereas the post-Brexit relations between the EU and UK constitute a clear case of differentiated disintegration (Schimmelfennig 2018), an alternative model of future EU-Turkey relations is increasingly being discussed in terms of differentiated integration (Muftuler-Bac 2017). The objective of this paper is to - building on the existing differentiation literature - juxtapose and compare various models proposed for EU-UK relationship (including the political declaration attached to the withdrawal agreement) on the one hand and for EU-Turkey relations on the other. Thus the central research question is to what extent could the EU-UK experience of differentiation as a result of disintegration serve as an inspiration for re-construction of EU-Turkey relations beyond accession paradigm and towards differentiation as a result of selective integration. We examine both the range of external differentiation options for EU economic and security relationship with the two countries, as well as constraints and scope conditions for such a relationship that affect both the UK and Turkey. This research is part of the project “Differentiated integration, Turkish accession prospects and EU geopolitics” (2016-2019) funded by the National Science Centre in Poland.