Near East University Near East Institute published the report regarding the "Northern Cyprus Model" in the frame of Euro-Mediterranean regional integration and democratization process.

The field analysis report, which was co-prepared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Umut Koldaş, Director of the Near East Institute (NEI), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nur Köprülü, Head of NEU Department of Political Sciences and vice Director of Near East Institute, analyzes the democratization and liberation processes in countries located in Euro-Mediterranean region in a historical and systematic manner and examines where and how North Cyprus positioned within these processes.

The report, which was co-edited by NEI Director Associate Professor Umut Koldaş, NEI Chief Advisor Ercan Çitlioğlu and NEI Projects and Scientific Publications Coordinator Mustafa Çıraklı and released by Near East University Publications, constitutes a modeling work on the legal and de facto position of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the framework of democratization processes and democracy models of the countries affiliated to Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press & Public Relations Office of Near East University, the report would be delivered to all respective institutions and organizations, NGOs, libraries, and all foreign missions in Cyprus and Turkey. The report will be accessible on Near East Institute official Facebook account (yakindoguenstitusu facebook) and on the webpage yde.edu.tr

Köprülü: Unique to TRNC, A Differentiated Integration Model
Pointing out that the understanding of democracy exhibited by EU within widening and deepening politics and the political liberalization practices of Mediterranean countries were analyzed, NEI vice Director Associate Professor Nur Köprülü stated that significant developments have been experienced in the northern part of the island after EU suspended the acquis following the adoption of Cyprus as a full member on 1 May 2004. As discussed in the report, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Köprülü underlined that it was of great importance at the point of relations with EU whether progress had been achieved towards democratization in a process in which the Cyprus problem continues. “When examining the model of democratization in the TRNC, EU membership process and de jure 'stay-out' of the integration of the northern part of the island, it won't be wrong to say that the EU is turning towards a new process through differentiated integration at the point of the Europeanization of Turkish Community. On the other hand, while giving priority to institutionalization through democracy and transparent decision-making mechanisms within the deepening politics - particularly with Maastricht and Lisbon Treaties, the EU couldn't exert the similar normative function in realizing its widening policies. As the number of European Union Member States has increased and the competences of the Union have widened, some Member States have on occasion been exempted from joining their partners in new fields of integration. When considering it in the frame of the Cyprus problem, the island has not fully integrated with the EU institutions and even it has an exclusive position" said she.

Koldaş: In a Systematic and Comparative Manner, We Evaluated Democratization Processes on Euro-Mediterranean Axis
"Near East Institute releases research reports monthly. We are presenting a new report to the information and interest of public. The report comparatively examines the Euro-Mediterranean regional democratization processes through theoretical depth and systematic analyzes based on up-to-date information, and evaluates North Cyprus within this context. Considering the dynamics that affect democracy models and processes in the Euro-Mediterranean region, it is not wrong to say that there are differences between the northern and southern regions of this region in terms of political landscape, political culture and democratic values approach and perceptions. In this context, the countries in the north, where the European Union Member States and Candidate States constitute the majority, and the countries in the south and the Middle East and North Africa, which have a different socio-economic and cultural and political background, are in different positions in terms of democratic model and practice. As a matter of fact in a broad literature, regional democratization has become a process centered and guided by Western Europe since the mid-1990s. When it is examined on the basis of countries, it is possible to observe differences between local dynamics and obstacles of democratization models in spite of the similarity of regional dynamics and processes. Different democratization approaches are common in the related literature. Considering these approaches and examining the North Cyprus model within the frame of the data obtained through systematic and comparative analysis is important in terms of understanding the local dynamics of democratization processes and models and their interaction with regional and international dynamics" said he.