Mayor Turan Attended the 21st NALAS General Assembly Held in Romania as a Delegate of the Marmara Municipalities Union

Mr. M. Ergün Turan, Mayor of Fatih Municipality, attended the 21st NALAS General Assembly held in Sibiu; topics such as sustainable urban development, climate adaptation and the resilience of cities were discussed.

The Mayor, Mr. M. Ergün Turan continued his international engagements as part of the NALAS 21st General Assembly, which aims to strengthen cooperation among local authorities in South-Eastern Europe. The programme, held in Sibiu, Romania, brought together mayors, local government representatives, academics and experts from various countries, facilitating the evaluation of common policies for the future of cities.

At the general assembly, the environmental, social and economic challenges facing cities were addressed through a holistic approach. Key topics such as the impacts of climate change on cities, increasing population density, urbanisation pressures, the efficient use of natural resources, and the development of sustainable urban policies formed the main agenda of the meeting. Within this framework, comprehensive assessments were conducted on green infrastructure initiatives, energy efficiency, carbon emission reduction, the expansion of environmentally friendly transport systems, and resilient city models capable of withstanding disasters.

It was also emphasised at the meetings that cities must be strengthened not only in terms of physical infrastructure but also in terms of social resilience, economic sustainability and quality of life. Topics such as the establishment of long-term strategies in urban planning, the development of data-driven decision-making processes by local authorities, and the promotion of a participatory governance approach were also raised.

Mr. Turan, who participated in the programme as the NALAS Delegate of the Marmara Municipalities Union, stated that international cooperation plays a decisive role in preparing cities for the future. Highlighting the similarities in the challenges faced by local authorities, Mr. Turan emphasised the importance of collective wisdom and the sharing of experiences in devising solutions to these challenges.

Mr. Turan, the Mayor, noted that the work being carried out in Türkiye towards the goal of green and resilient cities is considered in conjunction with regional and global developments, and stated that policies developed around sustainability are among the top priorities for local authorities. In this context, he highlighted the importance of steps taken to implement environmentally conscious projects, ensure the efficient use of energy resources, and make cities better prepared for disasters.

Through the sessions, panels and workshops held during the general assembly, best practices from different cities were shared. Participating municipalities exchanged information by presenting the projects they had implemented in their own cities. This process made a significant contribution to local authorities in terms of improving their current practices and drawing inspiration for new projects.

Throughout the programme, work carried out in areas such as sustainable transport, environmental management, energy policies, digital municipal applications and urban resilience was discussed in detail. Furthermore, financing models, international funding sources and strategies applicable at the local level were also evaluated in relation to cities’ adaptation processes to climate change.

The General Assembly not only contributed to local authorities adapting more swiftly to global transformations but also strengthened opportunities for inter-city cooperation. The dialogue established among participants facilitated the development of joint projects and the broader dissemination of a sustainable urbanism approach.

In this regard, the 21st NALAS General Assembly stood out not merely as a platform for information sharing among local authorities, but as a significant gathering where strategic approaches shaping the future of cities were formulated. Fatih Municipality continues to closely monitor international developments and take steps to strengthen its own urban planning policies throughout this process.