SAM Papers Possible Revamp in Turkey-EU Relations inthe Post Covid-19 Era: Opportunities and Challenges

Turkey-EU relations have been under de facto suspension for the last few years. 2020 played a transformative role in international relations, bringing huge unpredictability but at the same time presenting various opportunities in Turkey-EU relations. This SAM paper discusses the future of Turkey-EU relations in light of the positive dialogue initiated by both Turkey and the EU in terms of opportunities and challenges in the post-Covid-19 era. The key highlights of this paper are as follows: First, it will touch upon three opportunities and how they are likely to be reflected in Turkey-EU relations in the months ahead. These are, migration management and refugees as a common challenge, the effects of Covid-19 on global supply chains and the window of opportunity brought about by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU.  Second, the paper will highlight three main challenges in Turkey-EU relations: the fragmented political atmosphere in the EU, the rise of Islamophobia in Europe and the maritime jurisdiction disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean. In conclusion, the author will touch upon the opportunities and challenges facing Turkey-EU relations in the post-Covid-19 era and offer some recommendations regarding how to warm up the relations, especially on the societal level, which plays an undeniable role in the betterment of mutual relations.