PRESTIGIOUS EUROPEAN AWARD FOR ESKİŞEHİR

The International Eskişehir Porsuk Festival, organised for the first time this year by Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality with ETİ as the main sponsor, featured not only arts and cultural events but also a significant award ceremony. On the final day of the festival, Eskişehir was presented with the "Flag of Honour" awarded by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Eskişehir Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce, who received the Flag of Honour, expressed her great pride, saying, "This award belongs to all of us, to Eskişehir. I am receiving it on your behalf."

The "Flag of Honour", which Eskişehir was awarded following a decision by the Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, was presented to Eskişehir Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce at a ceremony held at the Kentpark festival area on the final night of the festival.

The Flag of Honour was presented to Mayor Ünlüce by Gökçe Gökçen, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Member of the Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development, Member of the Party Assembly of Yeni Parti, and Member of Parliament for İzmir. During the ceremony, it was emphasised that Eskişehir is one of the exemplary cities that upholds and promotes European values at the local level.

"ESKİŞEHİR IS AN EXEMPLARY CITY"

During the presentation of the Flag of Honour, Gökçe Gökçen said:

"In 2025, your city was awarded the European Diploma, the first stage of the Europe Prize programme. Today, Eskişehir reaches another important milestone with the Flag of Honour. I congratulate you all on this remarkable achievement!

I encourage you to further develop your European activities, particularly those involving young people. Young people are the future of our democracies; they fully deserve to be involved in the process, to have a voice and to be represented in politics."

Gökçen stated that the awarding of the Flag of Honour to Eskişehir was an important indication of the city's strong ties with Europe and the work it carries out at the local level, before presenting the award to Mayor Ünlüce.

"WE ARE DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD"

Eskişehir Metropolitan Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce expressed her happiness at receiving such a meaningful and prestigious award on the final night of the festival.

Mayor Ünlüce said, "Dear people of Eskişehir, I stand before you today for a very special award. I am proud of this. Since the day I was elected, I have been serving as Head of the Turkish Delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. I am extremely proud to represent the unique and wonderful people of Eskişehir in Europe. This year, we have earned the right to receive the Council of Europe Flag of Honour. As a municipality committed to the fundamental values of the Council of Europe -- the rule of law, democracy and human rights -- I am also extremely pleased to stand before you today with an approach that is transparent, inclusive and accountable, and that shares its resources with its people. This award belongs to all of us, to Eskişehir. I am receiving it on your behalf."

Mayor Ünlüce stated that she wished to receive the Council of Europe award together with Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Büyükerşen, who had served as mayor for 25 years before her, and invited Büyükerşen onto the stage.

Büyükerşen, who said that he was experiencing one of the happiest moments of his life, stated, "This flag shows how deeply the people of Eskişehir are committed to European values. At the same time, people living in European countries will always be proud to know that there is a city here, in the heart of Anatolia, that represents them. I once again greet you all on the occasion of this flag ceremony and embrace you with affection."

SECOND STAGE OF THE EUROPE PRIZE PROCESS

The Europe Prize, awarded by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, stands out as one of the most prestigious awards aimed at strengthening European values at the local level and promoting cooperation between municipalities and cities across Europe.

The award process consists of four stages: the European Diploma, the Flag of Honour, the Plaque of Honour and the Europe Prize. The assessment takes into account cities' commitment to European values, sister city relations, cultural and social cooperation, youth activities, practices promoting democratic participation and international activities.

Eskişehir was among the six cities to receive this prestigious distinction in 2026. The other municipalities were Montpellier in France; Heidelberg and Leipzig in Germany; Sabaudia in Italy; and Kadıköy in Türkiye.

ESKİŞEHİR ALSO RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN DIPLOMA IN 2025

In June 2025, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality was awarded the "2025 European Diploma" by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.