School / Department: University of Essex, Department of Government – Pan European Institute / MA in European Integration

Institution and Position: Permanent Delegation of Türkiye to the EU, Deputy Permanent Delegate

 

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born in 1971 in Samsun. After completing my secondary education at Samsun Anadolu High School, I graduated from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Public Administration in 1993. In 1997, I completed a postgraduate diploma programme at the Maastricht School of Management in Netherlands with a scholarship from the Dutch Government. I can confidently say that the master’s program I completed at the University of Essex as a Jean Monnet scholar was a breakthrough experience for me in the next phase of my professional life. Beyond the theoretical knowledge I gained during this period, the social and cultural experiences I acquired were invaluable and have influenced every aspect of my life.

 

How has your career progressed up until now?

I began my career in the public sector as an Assistant Expert for European Communities at the Directorate General for European Communities Coordination in the then Ministry of Industry and Trade. While continuing my duties as an Expert for European Communities, after the establishment of Secretariat General for European Union Affairs (EUSG) in 2001, I started working at the EUSG in the Department of Single Market and Competition as an EU Expert. In 2005, I was appointed Head of Department within the same unit and I performed this role until 2010. Between 2011 and 2018, I served as the Head of Department of Agriculture and Fisheries under the new institutional structure of the Ministry for European Union Affairs. In 2020, I was appointed Head of Sectoral Policies at the Directorate for EU Affairs, which is currently functioning under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Later, in 2020, I was appointed as Deputy Director General at the Directorate General for EU and Foreign Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. As of June 2023, I have been continuing my public service in Brussels as the Deputy Permanent Delegate of Türkiye to  the European Union. Throughout my public service, I have not only witnessed key milestones in Türkiye’s EU accession journey but also taken active role in the alignment and implementation of the EU acquis across different sectors that constitute the basis for EU membership. I would like to express that I have had the opportunity to personally experience how critical the technical level preparations by public institutions and organizations are for the membership goal, in addition to the political/diplomatic dimension of the process.

 

Could you provide some details about the university and the subject you studied through Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme?

Through the Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme, I pursued a master’s degree in “European Integration” at the Pan-European Institute of the Department of Government at the University of Essex in the UK. Given that one of my areas of responsibility as an EU Expert was EU Competition Law, I focused my studies on this field and completed my thesis titled “Article 86: The Delicate Balance Between Obligation and Exemption.” This work allowed me to examine the relevant acquis and its implementation, as well as the implications of the case law on the application of EU Competition Law to public undertakings and administrations in particular, which is considered to determine competition rules for undertakings.

 

How has the education you completed through Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme influenced your perspective on the European Union?

The education I completed thanks to the Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme has greatly contributed to my understanding of the evolution of the EU integration process; the political, economic, and social challenges the EU has faced in reaching its current level of integration, and how these stages are reflected in the relationships between EU institutions and the existing legal frameworks. It has made a great contribution to see once again how each piece of legislation is technically worked on as it emerges from the EU decision-making process and how respect for the fundamental principles of EU law is crucial for the full functioning of the system. The knowledge and experience I gained on the functioning of the EU broadened my perspective on the EU accession process and made me realize how important the process itself is for public administration as well as its purpose. It is possible to say that having examined the theoretical background of many questions, problems and regulatory needs that I have encountered during my duty has increased my ability to direct the work of public institutions more effectively and accurately.

 

What advice would you give to prospective Jean Monnet scholars?

Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme is a unique opportunity, not only in terms of its contribution to increasing the highly skilled workforce that our country needs towards the full EU membership goal but also in terms of the opportunity it offers to our youth to develop themselves academically, socially and culturally. My advice to prospective Jean Monnet scholars is to make the most of this opportunity and to be as active and dynamic as possible throughout their studies. Understanding the structure, functioning, integration process, and foundations of EU law would provide them with significant advantages and privileges in their careers. Furthermore, expanding their international communication networks and engaging with people from different cultures would immensely contribute to their personal and professional development. I would also recommend that, in addition to their academic endeavours, they immerse themselves in the daily life of the country they are in, socialize, and not forget to have fun, which is the colour of life.