EUROPEAN BRAND OF GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE” TO ESKİŞEHİR METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality received the “European Governance Excellence Brand” award developed by the Council of Europe. Speaking at the ceremony held in Ankara, Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality Ayşe Ünlüce said, “This award belongs not only to our municipality, but to all residents of Eskisehir!" 

The European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) 2024 Award Ceremony, which serves to enable local governments to fulfill their duties and responsibilities in a more democratic and better way, to continuously improve their institutional capacities, and to strengthen development and quality of life in a sustainable way, was held in Ankara.

At the award ceremony held at the service building of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality, together with Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, became the second metropolitan municipality in Türkiye to receive the European Label of Governance Excellence award among metropolitan municipalities. Adana Metropolitan Municipality, Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality were also awarded the brand for the first time this year.

Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Reşit Serhan Taşkınsu, mayors, municipal bureaucrats and guests attended the award ceremony.

The opening speeches of the ceremony were delivered by Dr. Şengül Altan Arslan, Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye; Niall Sheerin, Vice President of the Governance Expertise Centre of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe; Mario Zulicek, Board Member of the European Local Democracy Association (ALDA); and Dr. Yılmaz Argüden, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Argüden Governance Academy.

After the speeches, Dr. Yılmaz Argüden, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Argüden Governance Academy, presented the crystal award to Mayor Ünlüce on behalf of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality, which was entitled to carry the European Governance Excellence Mark for the second time.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Ünlüce said, “The crystal award of this beautiful brand has been in Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality for a year and this gives us great pride. It is an honor for us to carry this brand for another year and to receive the crystal award. This year has a special importance for me. Because this term, together with my esteemed mayors, we are taking part in the National Delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. Therefore, it is also important for me to carry the brand developed by the Council of Europe this year. I would like to thank the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, which always paves the way for us and enlightens us, for hosting us so well. We are happy that we have created the 5-year strategic plan of our municipality by reaching out to 10 thousand residents with these 12 principles and 97 indicators. This award does not belong to our municipality, but to all residents of Eskisehir! I believe that this award, which our municipality has been deemed worthy of, will contribute to the strengthening of our good governance culture and the sustainable development and quality of life of our city, and I congratulate all my colleagues and council members who contributed.” The ceremony was completed with photographs taken and the closing panel.

Municipalities that have obtained the right to use the brand, taking into account the work they have carried out and the commitments they have made can continue to use the brand in the following periods if they renew their applications and receive approval from the independent jury.