1. The document discusses the creation of Regional Development Agencies in Turkey in response to EU accession requirements for regionalization, but argues they do not truly decentralize power and decision-making remains centralized. 2. It explores the local demand for business support services that the Agencies aim to provide by coordinating regional economic development and connecting actors. 3. However, the Agencies have limited autonomy and initiative, remaining under close control of the central government, so their ability to promote endogenous regional development is uncertain.

1. Beno UMR 6590 ESO-Rennes Université Européenne de Bretagne ENTI Intelligence Territoriale - Grand Ouest 25-26 Mars 2010 From Regionalisation to Territorial Management: The Role of the « Regional » Development Agencies in Turkey Benoît Montabone UMR CNRS 6590 ESO-Rennes Université Européenne de Bretagne - Rennes 2

2. From Regionalisation to Territorial Management: The Role of the « Regional » Development Agencies in Turkey Candidacy process to the EU: European demand and national response according to national specificities Creation of Regional Development Agencies often seen as a result of « policy transfer » for regionalisation process Observations based on the 3 first Agencies existing in Turkey (Izmir, Adana, Istanbul) and in-depths interview with local actors Introduction 1- Are « Regional Development Agencies the expression of a regionalisation process in Turkey? 2- Local initiatives and local demand for supporting regional business communities. 3- The role of the RDAs in promoting regional endogenous development

4. From Regionalisation to Territorial Management: The Role of the « Regional » Development Agencies in Turkey Creation of new territorial units