The Effect of the European Green Deal on Turkish Maritime Transport Sector from a Legal Perspective

Abstract

The aim of the research is to review the contributions of the European Green Deal (EGD) and the acquis communautaire to the decarbonization targets of Turkish maritime transport sector. As the methodology of the research, a detailed and comparative analysis was followed by reviewing the legal documents both in the European Union (EU) law and Turkish law, international agreements and official statistical data. The main question of the research is to review how the compliance works of Türkiye with the acquis communautaire at the field of the decarbonization of Turkish maritime sector shapes the Turkish law based on EGD and Türkiye Green Deal Action Plan (TGDAP). Therefore, the paper is considered by the author, will contribute to the literature by delving into the recent developments. The decarbonization targets for the maritime transportation sector mentioned in the EGD have a significant impact on the decarbonization targets in the Turkish maritime which constitutes a significant field in TGDAP. It is concluded that the European Commission’s Financing Agreement, which determines actions such as donating existing ships with renewable energy technologies, building new ships, and supplying alternative fuel infrastructure in port activities in Türkiye, shall also make significant contributions to the realization of the commitments given by Türkiye at the international agreements for the decarbonisation of maritime activities in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, respectively and shall increase the close cooperation between the Turkish authorities and the EU in combating climate change.