"OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE"
"WITH THE SUPPORT OF UMT, WE WILL EXPAND THE AREAS THAT PROMOTE DEMOCRACY."
Ekrem İmamoğlu, the President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT) and the Mayor of Istanbul, spoke at the closing event of the "European Mobility Week" (EMW). İmamoğlu stated that, UMT will support the expansion of public spaces that promote democracy in cities, and emphasized that they will take important steps to strengthen municipalities through UMT.
The European Mobility Week, for which UMT has been the national coordinator since 2018, concluded with a closing event in Üsküdar Square. The event was held within the framework of the "EU Support Project for Sustainable Urban Mobility in Cities" (SKUP Türkiye), which is funded by Türkiye and the European Union (EU), with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure as the contracting authority and UMT as the final beneficiary. Ekrem İmamoğlu, the President of UMT and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, Chargé d'Affaires Jurgis Vilcinskas, each delivered a speech during the closing event.
"PUBLIC SPACES CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD PEACE"
In his speech, İmamoğlu highlighted that this year's theme for EMW was "Shared Public Spaces," stating, "Based on my municipal experience, I can say that well-designed public spaces make people feel a more peaceful and shared city by bringing together different groups for various purposes. Just earlier, while coming here from Harem, I saw the new state of Salacak. I absolutely loved it. Because people were vibrant and lively. It was previously under occupation and unfortunately was not usable. If only our shared spaces could increase, and if people could come together and interact more, this would enhance the quality of life and also ensure that people get to know, respect, and love each other. I assert that these kinds of public spaces contribute significantly not just to the city but also to the atmosphere created by large metropolises like ours and, to a high degree, to world peace."
"WE WILL ENSURE MUNICIPALITIES ARE STRONGER THROUGH UMT"
Emphasizing that local governments are the closest form of public administration to all people, İmamoğlu said:
"Making transportation sustainable and accessible serves a great purpose against the adverse effects of climate change. As you can see, the pattern of rain has changed, and seasons have altered. Drought is frightening and alarming for all of us. Sometimes when there hasn’t been rain for two or three months, we begin to ask each other, 'What is happening?' Everything we say has significant contributions not only to personal health, relationships between people, and the order, tranquility, and peace of the city but also to the overall improvement of the climate. We are aware of the immense value of local governments. Local governments are the closest form of public administration to all people. Therefore, we will also strive intensively to strengthen and empower local governments. Through TBB, we will make significant efforts for changes to ensure that municipalities are stronger. I hope that together we design cities that are not only more livable and sustainable but also represent people more fairly, so that you do not feel like a stranger in your city but instead feel at home as if you were walking in your living room in Üsküdar Square. That is our aspiration."
"I INVITE OUR CITIZENS TO BE MORE ACTIVE"
Noting that rail systems are environmentally friendly but come with high costs, İmamoğlu expressed that citizens struggle to change their habits:
"I regret to say that in many places, as soon as we open rail system investments, we face challenges in changing some of our citizens' habits. They continue to prefer getting on minibuses or buses right at their doors. But it shouldn't be like this. We are growing into a different city with a different population. In some aspects and initiatives, we are indeed a city that has been delayed. Therefore, we say that we request you to be able to access public transport by walking reasonable distances. Of course, it is also our responsibility, as well as that of district municipalities, to provide comfortable sidewalks, ensure accessibility for the disabled, and facilitate pedestrian travel. But after we implement these measures, it is essential that you utilize public transport, which reduces emissions; otherwise, it won't be meaningful. In this respect, I encourage every citizen to be more active, to take more steps. We will be walking, right? Wonderful."
"PARTICIPATION SHOULD BE THE GOAL OF EVERY MAYOR"
İmamoğlu underlined that they will continue to create green areas, public spaces, and squares. He mentioned the example of Salacak and many other similar examples, stating that they are not intended to be hidden or restricted but rather to be opened for the benefit of people. "You should definitely see the new state of Eminönü Square or visit Sarayburnu and see its new condition. In this respect, we have adopted the principle of continuously providing healthy spaces for all of you. This is indeed a stance that serves the concept of shared public spaces," he said. He added that the Büyükçekmece coast, which they renovated and opened for public use, was also prepared with the same approach, calling it a very special area. "Another detail is participation. These areas can also be defined as democratic spaces. When people come together and take an active role in them, the spaces are shaped better, and they contribute to making their city better. It is essential to implement a process that encourages participation; this should be the aim of every mayor."
VILCINSKAS: "OUR PATH IS LONG, AND WE SHARE YOUR EXCITEMENT"
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Tükiye, Chargé d'Affaires Vilcinskas, also spoke, saying:
"I can tell you that the EU will continue to work with Türkiye and Istanbul to achieve this transformation and support you. How will we do this? Primarily, we will share with you the best practices necessary for the transition to sustainable urban mobility. We will ensure the development of earthquake-resistant transportation networks and provide support for this. We will assist in modernizing waste and water management. We will also offer our support for the decarbonization of maritime transportation. I assure you, as you deal with these challenges and seek solutions to these issues, you will not be alone on this journey. We hope to establish strong and lasting collaborations moving forward."
Vilcinskas concluded his speech with the words, "Our path is long. We share your excitement" in Turkish.
OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Inviting UMT Executive Board Members, Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan Akın, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, and Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş to the stage, İmamoğlu summarized:
"Since 2018, UMT has been responsible for the national coordination of Mobility Week. Our goal is to change our habits a bit and ensure that the city is experienced with more mobility. In this sense, especially focusing on green solutions, we aim to make local decisions more favorable for pedestrians and people, creating a city where they can roam more. Municipalities across the country are taking strong steps in this regard. Various activities and events have been organized in many provinces during the week and will continue to do so. We hope that these habits will activate all of us. In terms of strengthening an accessible city, we have initiatives that encourage walking, cycling, and public transport use. To make the environmental and health impacts of our transportation choices meaningful, we strive to establish a more efficient and accessible transportation system with the participation of urban residents."
"WITH THE SUPPORT OF UMT, WE WILL EXPAND THE AREAS THAT PROMOTE DEMOCRACY."
Ekrem İmamoğlu, the President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT) and the Mayor of Istanbul, spoke at the closing event of the "European Mobility Week" (EMW). İmamoğlu stated that, UMT will support the expansion of public spaces that promote democracy in cities, and emphasized that they will take important steps to strengthen municipalities through UMT.
The European Mobility Week, for which UMT has been the national coordinator since 2018, concluded with a closing event in Üsküdar Square. The event was held within the framework of the "EU Support Project for Sustainable Urban Mobility in Cities" (SKUP Türkiye), which is funded by Türkiye and the European Union (EU), with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure as the contracting authority and UMT as the final beneficiary. Ekrem İmamoğlu, the President of UMT and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, Chargé d'Affaires Jurgis Vilcinskas, each delivered a speech during the closing event.
"PUBLIC SPACES CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD PEACE"
In his speech, İmamoğlu highlighted that this year's theme for EMW was "Shared Public Spaces," stating, "Based on my municipal experience, I can say that well-designed public spaces make people feel a more peaceful and shared city by bringing together different groups for various purposes. Just earlier, while coming here from Harem, I saw the new state of Salacak. I absolutely loved it. Because people were vibrant and lively. It was previously under occupation and unfortunately was not usable. If only our shared spaces could increase, and if people could come together and interact more, this would enhance the quality of life and also ensure that people get to know, respect, and love each other. I assert that these kinds of public spaces contribute significantly not just to the city but also to the atmosphere created by large metropolises like ours and, to a high degree, to world peace."
"WE WILL ENSURE MUNICIPALITIES ARE STRONGER THROUGH UMT"
Emphasizing that local governments are the closest form of public administration to all people, İmamoğlu said:
"Making transportation sustainable and accessible serves a great purpose against the adverse effects of climate change. As you can see, the pattern of rain has changed, and seasons have altered. Drought is frightening and alarming for all of us. Sometimes when there hasn’t been rain for two or three months, we begin to ask each other, 'What is happening?' Everything we say has significant contributions not only to personal health, relationships between people, and the order, tranquility, and peace of the city but also to the overall improvement of the climate. We are aware of the immense value of local governments. Local governments are the closest form of public administration to all people. Therefore, we will also strive intensively to strengthen and empower local governments. Through TBB, we will make significant efforts for changes to ensure that municipalities are stronger. I hope that together we design cities that are not only more livable and sustainable but also represent people more fairly, so that you do not feel like a stranger in your city but instead feel at home as if you were walking in your living room in Üsküdar Square. That is our aspiration."
"I INVITE OUR CITIZENS TO BE MORE ACTIVE"
Noting that rail systems are environmentally friendly but come with high costs, İmamoğlu expressed that citizens struggle to change their habits:
"I regret to say that in many places, as soon as we open rail system investments, we face challenges in changing some of our citizens' habits. They continue to prefer getting on minibuses or buses right at their doors. But it shouldn't be like this. We are growing into a different city with a different population. In some aspects and initiatives, we are indeed a city that has been delayed. Therefore, we say that we request you to be able to access public transport by walking reasonable distances. Of course, it is also our responsibility, as well as that of district municipalities, to provide comfortable sidewalks, ensure accessibility for the disabled, and facilitate pedestrian travel. But after we implement these measures, it is essential that you utilize public transport, which reduces emissions; otherwise, it won't be meaningful. In this respect, I encourage every citizen to be more active, to take more steps. We will be walking, right? Wonderful."
"PARTICIPATION SHOULD BE THE GOAL OF EVERY MAYOR"
İmamoğlu underlined that they will continue to create green areas, public spaces, and squares. He mentioned the example of Salacak and many other similar examples, stating that they are not intended to be hidden or restricted but rather to be opened for the benefit of people. "You should definitely see the new state of Eminönü Square or visit Sarayburnu and see its new condition. In this respect, we have adopted the principle of continuously providing healthy spaces for all of you. This is indeed a stance that serves the concept of shared public spaces," he said. He added that the Büyükçekmece coast, which they renovated and opened for public use, was also prepared with the same approach, calling it a very special area. "Another detail is participation. These areas can also be defined as democratic spaces. When people come together and take an active role in them, the spaces are shaped better, and they contribute to making their city better. It is essential to implement a process that encourages participation; this should be the aim of every mayor."
VILCINSKAS: "OUR PATH IS LONG, AND WE SHARE YOUR EXCITEMENT"
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Tükiye, Chargé d'Affaires Vilcinskas, also spoke, saying:
"I can tell you that the EU will continue to work with Türkiye and Istanbul to achieve this transformation and support you. How will we do this? Primarily, we will share with you the best practices necessary for the transition to sustainable urban mobility. We will ensure the development of earthquake-resistant transportation networks and provide support for this. We will assist in modernizing waste and water management. We will also offer our support for the decarbonization of maritime transportation. I assure you, as you deal with these challenges and seek solutions to these issues, you will not be alone on this journey. We hope to establish strong and lasting collaborations moving forward."
Vilcinskas concluded his speech with the words, "Our path is long. We share your excitement" in Turkish.
OUR GOAL IS TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Inviting UMT Executive Board Members, Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan Akın, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, and Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş to the stage, İmamoğlu summarized:
"Since 2018, UMT has been responsible for the national coordination of Mobility Week. Our goal is to change our habits a bit and ensure that the city is experienced with more mobility. In this sense, especially focusing on green solutions, we aim to make local decisions more favorable for pedestrians and people, creating a city where they can roam more. Municipalities across the country are taking strong steps in this regard. Various activities and events have been organized in many provinces during the week and will continue to do so. We hope that these habits will activate all of us. In terms of strengthening an accessible city, we have initiatives that encourage walking, cycling, and public transport use. To make the environmental and health impacts of our transportation choices meaningful, we strive to establish a more efficient and accessible transportation system with the participation of urban residents."