Turkish Policy towards the Wider Black Sea and the EU Connection

The Black Sea has been on the global agenda since the end of the Cold War; and Turkey has appeared as a rising regional power in the region. Turkey's policies in the Black Sea have aimed at the creation of region-wide multilateral cooperation schemes. Starting with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, it initiated several institutions with varying degrees of success. In addition to creating a stable environment, conducive to increased cooperation and enhanced trade relationships, sustaining maritime security through an elaborate balance of power in the region has been important for Turkey. While it supported closer relations with and further integration into the European Union, Turkey does not wish to see competitive projects aimed at the region evolving into a cause for instability