Mr. Turan, the Mayor of Fatih Municipality attended the 20th General Assembly and Regional Conference of NALAS

Mr. M. Ergün Turan, the Mayor of Fatih Municipality, represented Türkiye and Fatih at the NALAS Conference held in Varaždin, Croatia. He evaluated the responsibilities of local governments on migration, social cohesion and social participation.

Mr. M. Ergün Turan, the Mayor of Fatih Municipality, represented Türkiye and Fatih in the international meetings organised in Varaždin, Croatia to attend the 20th General Assembly and Regional Conference of the Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS).

The conference addressed current and multidimensional issues such as migration and social inclusion at the local government level. Mr. Turan, the Mayor, evaluated the topics of migration management, social cohesion and social participation within the framework of the responsibilities imposed on local governments by the European Union accession process. In this context, he shared with the participants examples of social support activities, education and counselling services, centres for women and children as well as collaborations with civil society carried out by Fatih Municipality within its multicultural structure.

In his speech, Mr. Turan, the Mayor, emphasised that the phenomenon of migration requires a strong coordination not only at the national but also at the local level, and added: ‘Fatih is a city that has been shaped by migration throughout history. Today, it hosts people from different geographies. As a local government, we are trying to turn this diversity into a potential and strengthen the atmosphere of harmony and solidarity.’

Within the scope of the event, contacts with mayors and local administrators from different countries encouraged exchange of experience and mutual transfer of good practices. Mr. Turan, the Mayor emphasised the importance of international cooperation in the formulation of sustainable and inclusive policies at the regional level.

In the sessions held during the NALAS General Assembly and Conference, evaluations were made in areas such as participation in local governance, digital transformation, environmental sustainability and social equality. Mr. Turan, the Mayor, presented a comprehensive framework on the transformation process of local governments in Türkiye by explaining the steps taken by Fatih Municipality on these matters.

At the end of the meeting, new road maps were created to strengthen the cooperation between the countries under the roof of NALAS, while the experience and contribution of Fatih Municipality was noted as an important example at the international level.