Legal and institutional foundations of Turkey’s domestic and transboundary water policy

Abstract

Turkey’s water policy and management is a culmination of various laws and regulations governed by a range of national ministries and executive administrations. Over time, several changes were made in the existing legislation and institutions, which ended up with complex water management system in Turkey. Existing surface and groundwater laws have become insufficient in responding to the increasing water demand and diminishing water supply. On the other hand, neoliberal transformation of Turkish economy in the 1980s and the country’s harmonization process with the European Union since the early 2000s have produced new primary and secondary water legislations in the domestic water, irrigation, hydropower and the environment sectors. In this context, this chapter, firstly, describes the principal water legislation in Turkey. Secondly, main water institutions are depicted with specific attention to the reorganization processes of various key ministries due to domestic and regional political changes. Finally, Turkey’s transboundary water policy is delineated with its basic principles and prevailing practices.