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The Development Process of Environmental Law in Turkey: The EU Impact

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Environmental Law and Policies in Turkey

Part of the book series: The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science ((APESS,volume 31))

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Abstract

Turkish environmental law has greatly changed and improved since the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923. While progress has mostly been gradual, the EU accession process had a notable impact.

In order to understand the present situation of Turkish environmental law , it is essential to obtain an analytical overview of the past and ongoing initiatives related to its development process.

In this chapter, to make the development process of Turkish environmental law clear and easy to understand, this analysis is divided into five main phases: (1) Pre-1982 Constitution period, (2) From 1982 Constitution to the EU candidacy (1999), (3) From the EU candidacy (1999) to accession country status (2005), (4) From accession country status (2005) to the opening of the chapter on environment (2009), (5) The opening of the chapter on environment (2009) and onwards.

Dr. Zerrin Savaşan, Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Sub-department of International LawInternational Law , Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey . e-mail: szerrin@selcuk.edu.tr.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    These regulations include the following: Village Affairs Act No. 442 (1924), Harbor Act No. 618 (1925), Civil Code No. 743 (1926), Obligations Code No. 818 (1926), Penal Code No. 765 (1926), Waters Act No. 831 (1926), General Sanitation Act No. 1593 (1930), Public Hygiene Act No. 1593 (1930), Municipalities Act No. 1580 (1930), Forest Act No. 3116 (1937), Land Hunting Act No. 3167 (1937), Provincial Administration Act No. 5442 (1949), Petroleum Act No. 6326 (1954), Forest Act No. 6831 (1956), Agricultural Pesticides and Agricultural Quarantine Act No. 6968 (1957), Groundwater Act No. 167 (1960), Slum Act No. 775 (1966), Water Products Act No. 1380 (1971). See at: www.mevzuat.gov.tr.

  2. 2.

    E.g. Agreement on the Establishment of a General Fisheries Council for Mediterranean (1954), Supplementary Agreement No. 15 signed with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (1957), Convention for the Establishment of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (1965), Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water (1965), International Convention on the Protection of Birds (1967), Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (1968), Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy (1968), Convention Concerning the Protection of Workers Against Ionizing Radiation (1969), European Convention for the Protection of Animals During International Transport (1971), Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea Bed and the Ocean Floor in the Subsoil thereof (1972), Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production of Stockpiling of Bacteriological and Toxin Weapons, and on Their Destruction (1975), Bilateral Agreement on the Technical Assistance for the Research of Pesticides on the Black Sea Fishes signed with Federal Republic of Germany (1975), Agreement on an International Energy Program (1981), Convention for the Protection of Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (1981), Project Agreement on Pollution Controlling and Manufacturing of the Controlling Tools signed with the UN (1981).

  3. 3.

    See Akgündüz (2009: 161–169) for the first environment act (called the Environment Statute) in history, which was adopted in the Ottoman Empire in 1539 through Sultan Suleiman, the Lawgiver.

  4. 4.

    Such as on the Fund for Prevention of Pollution (1985), on the Protection of Air Quality (1986), on Noise Control (1986), on the Fines To Be Imposed on Ships and Other Sea Vessels (1987), on the Control of Water Pollution (1988), on Solid Wastes Control (1991), on Environmental Impact Assessment (1993), on the Control of Harmful Chemical Substances and Products (1993), on Medical Wastes Control (1993), on Hazardous Wastes Control Management (1995) and Revision of the Regulation on Environmental Impact Assessment (1997). See at: www.mevzuat.gov.tr.

  5. 5.

    They can be illustrated as follows: Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property Act No. 2863 (1983), National Parks Act No. 2873 (1983), Construction Act No. 3194 (1985), Mining Act No. 3213 (1985), Decree Law No. 383 on the Establishment of an Environmental Protection Institution (1989), Coastal Act No. 3621 (1990). See at: www.mevzuat.gov.tr.

  6. 6.

    Some of those are: Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1983), Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (1983), Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution from Land-based Sources (1983), Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Their Natural Habitats (Bern Convention ) (1984), Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (EMEP) (1985), the Agreement signed with the Federal Republic of Germany on the Improvement of Large Leafed Trees in the Black Sea Region (1989), Vienna Convention on the protection of the Ozone Layer (1990), Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1990), Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (1990), Convention on Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) (1990), Project Agreement signed with the Federal Republic of Germany on the Conversation of Nature and Environment (1991), Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1994), Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (1994), Protocol on the Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment Against Pollution from Land Based Sources (1994), Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Black Sea Marine Environment by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergency Situations (1994), Protocol on the Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment Against Pollution by Dumping (1994), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES) (1996), Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas in the Mediterranean (1996), Protocol on the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (1996), Cooperation Agreement on the Environment signed with Turkmenistan (1997), Protocol on the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution on Long-term Financing of the Co-operative Convention on Biological Diversity (1997).

  7. 7.

    Such as Genoa Declaration on Mediterranean Sea (1985), UN/EC Flora, Fauna and Living Environment Protection Declaration (1988), European Environment and Health Charter (1989), Atmospheric Pollution and Climate (Noordwijk) Declaration (1989), Euro-Mediterranean Environment Charter (1990), UN/EC Sustainable Development (Bergen) Declaration (1990), New European (Paris) Charter (1990), UN/EC Espoo Ministerial Accord (1991), Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992), Agenda 21 (1992), Declaration on Forestry on Principles (1992), Central Asia and Balkan Republic Environment Ministers Declaration (1994), Barcelona Resolution (1995), OECD Environment Ministers Declaration (1998).

  8. 8.

    For the relevant projects implemented within the scope of 2002–2006 Turkey-EU Financial Cooperation see at: http://www.ab.gov.tr/files/SEPB/cevrefaslidokumanlar/list_of_2002_2006_projects.pdf.

  9. 9.

    See all texts, including amendments, at: http://www.csb.gov.tr/gm/ced/index.php?Sayfa=sayfa&Tur=webmenu&Id=254 and http://www.csb.gov.tr/gm/ced/index.php?Sayfa=sayfa&Tur=webmenu&Id=11223.

  10. 10.

    See at: www.mevzuat.gov.tr.

  11. 11.

    See at: www.mevzuat.gov.tr.

  12. 12.

    To analyse the development of these laboratories see at: https://lab.csb.gov.tr/.

  13. 13.

    Decree Law No. 703, OJ Date: 9.7.2018, No: 30473. See at: http://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2018/07/20180709M3.pdf; Presidential Decree No. 1, OJ Date: 10.7.2018, No. 30474, See at: http://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/MevzuatMetin/19.5.1.pdf.

  14. 14.

    See at: www.mevzuat.gov.tr.

  15. 15.

    For the list of the by-laws, decree-laws, circulars, and communiqués adopted to date on different sectors of the environment see at: https://cygm.csb.gov.tr/tebligler-i-441.

  16. 16.

    For the countries which are parties to the Convention see at: https://treaties.un.org/Pages/showDetails.aspx?objid=080000028002887c&clang=_en.

  17. 17.

    For the countries which are parties to the Convention see at: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/aarhus/map.html.

  18. 18.

    On policy learning, stipulating that domestic change comes through the enduring alteration of thought processes or behavioural intentions of domestic actors, see Checkel (2005); Sabatier (1988).

  19. 19.

    On EU-induced learning in the field of environment and climate policy as a mechanism of EU influence on transnational networks, see Busch and Jörgens (2005); Lenschow (2012).

  20. 20.

    For the list of the by-laws, decree-laws, circulars, and communiqués adopted to date on different sectors of the environment see at: https://cygm.csb.gov.tr/tebligler-i-441. Also, for the projects implemented within the scope of 2007–2013 Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) replacing the financial instrument for Turkey , see at: http://www.ab.gov.tr/index.php?p=92&l=2.

  21. 21.

    See at: http://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2018/12/20181210-4.htm. OJ (10 November 2018), No. 30621; Act No. 7153.

  22. 22.

    For all INDCs submitted see at:

    http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/indc/Submission%20Pages/submissions.aspx.

  23. 23.

    See all texts including amendments at:

    http://www.csb.gov.tr/gm/ced/index.php?Sayfa=sayfa&Tur=webmenu&Id=254 and

    http://www.csb.gov.tr/gm/ced/index.php?Sayfa=sayfa&Tur=webmenu&Id=11223.

  24. 24.

    See decision of the Constitutional Court (15 January 2009), Docket No. 2006/99, Decision No. 2009/9, in: OJ (8 July 2009), No. 27282.

  25. 25.

    See decision of the Constitutional Court (3 July 2014), Docket No. 2013/89, Decision No. 2014/116, in: OJ (4 July 2015), No. 29406.

  26. 26.

    See decisions of the Council of State – Sixth Chamber (2 February 2011), Docket No. 2008/8999, Decision No. 2011/165. Council of State – Fourteenth Chamber (10 January 2013), Docket No. 2008/13522, Decision No. 2013/4 and Docket No. 2011/11139, Decision No. 2013/9.

  27. 27.

    See decision of the Council of State – Fourteenth Chamber (28 December 2011), Docket No. 2011/15826.

  28. 28.

    See decision of the Council of State – Fourteenth Chamber (18 October 2012), Docket No. 2012/3269.

  29. 29.

    For details of the different actors working on different aspects of climate change in Turkey see Şahin (2014). For detailed information on climate change movement in Turkey see Baykan (2013).

  30. 30.

    The stagnation after October 2005 results from both sides due to the following reasons:

    On the EU’s side: Opposition of some member states to Turkish EU membership (see Aydın-Düzgit and Kaliber, 2016; Aydın-Düzgit and Noutcheva, 2012; Kubicek, 2011; Yılmaz, 2014; Parker, 2009), enlargement fatigue in the EU (see Szolucha, 2010), the world/EU financial crisis (see Braun and Tausendfund, 2014), and the rise of Islamophobia in Europe (Saz, 2011).

    On Turkey ’s side: Perception of unfair treatment/decline in support for EU membership (see Aydın-Düzgit and Noutcheva, 2012), the domestic context in Turkey (see Kalaycıoğlu, 2011), decreasing governmental interest in EU membership (see Özbudun, 2014; Kaliber, 2014), granting a more crucial role to the alternative economic and geostrategic options than to Western ties (see Börzel and Soyaltın, 2012; Öniş and Yılmaz, 2009).

  31. 31.

    This is because of the impact of a number of high-level visits, Leaders’ meetings in May 2017 and March 2018 and a High Level Political Dialogue in July 2017, with dialogue opportunities on foreign and security policy, notably on Syria, Libya and Iraq, and a counter-terrorism dialogue held in November 2017, with cooperation in the areas of energy, transport and economy and trade, supported by high level dialogues (European Commission , 2018: 3); and because of the long-term effects of the projects of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) “result[ing] in new institutional constraints, or stipulating social learning processes…” (Bürgin, 2016: 106).

  32. 32.

    E.g. there are very critical security challenges specifically in the south-east part of the country. In fact, Turkey has been struck by several deadly terrorist attacks by PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and Da’esh (Arabic acronym: Dawlat al-Islamiyah f’al-Iraq wa al-Sham) in the recent period, specifically just before the failed coup attempt period; there is an ongoing Syrian civil war and asylum problem resulting from that war on Turkey ’s borders, leading to an EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan to halt irregular bulk refugee flow into the EU (European Commission , 2015); cross-border/counter-terrorist operations (such as Operation Euphrates Shield, launched in August 2016; Operation Sinjar, launched in April 2017; Operation Idlib Shield, launched in October 2017; and Olive Branch Operation [Operation Afrin], launched in March 2018) were conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) to fight against terrorism and to prevent a terror corridor forming along its southern borderline by PKK – listed as a terrorist organization not just by Turkey , by also the USA and the EU – its Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and its armed wing, the People’s Protection Units (YPG); Turkey ’s new agenda was mostly dominated by security issues and political debate over the new governmental system adopted after a hotly disputed referendum on 16 April 2017, the presidential election on 24 June 2018, local elections on 31 March 2019, and, after that, by the economic troubles which escalated soon after the presidential elections and were still going on at the time of writing.

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  1. Department of International Relations, Sub-Department of International Law, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Zerrin Savaşan

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  1. FEAS, Department of International Relations, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Zerrin Savaşan

  2. FEAS, Department of International Relations, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Vakur Sümer

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Savaşan, Z. (2020). The Development Process of Environmental Law in Turkey: The EU Impact. In: Savaşan, Z., Sümer, V. (eds) Environmental Law and Policies in Turkey. The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science, vol 31. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36483-0_2

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