WYGANOWSKI: “A CITY BREATHES WHEN STREETS ARE OPENED TO PEOPLE”
SEÇER: “AS ATATÜRK SAID: THE TRUE GUIDE IN LIFE IS SCIENCE”
European Mobility Week (EMW), coordinated nationally by the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT), concluded with a closing event hosted by Mersin Metropolitan Municipality after a week of activities.
Launched on September 16 in Eskişehir under the theme “Mobility for Everyone,” the events continued throughout the week in Artvin, Amasya, Adıyaman, Ankara, Edirne and many more cities culminating in Mersin on September 22.
At the closing ceremony, Maria Luisa Wyganowski, Head of Financial Cooperation at the EU Delegation, and Vahap Seçer, Deputy President of UMT and Mayor of Mersin, delivered speeches.
Other attendees included Göktuğ Kara, Head of Transport at the EU Delegation, Suat Yıldız, Secretary General of UMT, Abdurrahman Yıldız, Mayor of Toroslar, Murat Aktoğ, Board Member of Mersin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MTSO), and Fevzi Filik, Deputy Secretary General of MTSO.
Emphasis on “Mobility for Everyone”
Maria Luisa Wyganowski emphasized that mobility is a matter of freedom and that this freedom should be accessible to everyone. She began her speech by stating: “Today, as we walk together on Adnan Menderes Boulevard, we see a simple truth: a city breathes when streets are opened to people.”
She added that mobility is not just about transportation—it’s about justice, dignity, and quality of life.
Tangible EU Support for Mersin
Wyganowski expressed pride in the EU’s role in this journey and highlighted several projects in Mersin. She noted that initiatives such as the metro system, electric bus fleets, and safer cycling infrastructure position Mersin as a model for other Mediterranean cities.
She also announced the delivery of 18 new electric buses to Mersin, fully funded by the EU, along with charging stations; promoting cleaner air, quieter streets, and greater comfort for passengers.
Wyganowski: “Thousands of citizens are experiencing their city in a new way”
Wyganowski remarked that these investments help improve services and demonstrate the city’s resilience. “Look around this evening: thousands of citizens -young and old- are walking, cycling, playing, and experiencing their city in a new way. This is the moment when ‘Mobility for Everyone’ becomes reality. My hope is that next time we meet, the only traffic on this boulevard will be bicycles, strollers, and friends returning from a concert.”
Seçer: “As Atatürk said: the true guide in life is science”
Speaking at the closing event, Mayor Seçer noted that the celebration coincided with Car-Free Day, observed globally by closing streets to traffic. He emphasized that this year’s theme, “Mobility for Everyone,” reflects both transportation and healthy living: “People must be active as a whole. This motto fits perfectly.”
Seçer highlighted efforts over the past 6.5 years to make Mersin a more modern, livable city, noting a 15-point increase in public support between the 2019 and 2024 elections. “When mindsets change, cities change. We must set aside political views and act according to the spirit of the age and science. As Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said: the true guide in life is science.”
Eco-Friendly Transportation Investments and Future Vision
Seçer shared updates on Mersin’s transportation and environmental investments, including the addition of 205 CNG buses to a 400-vehicle fleet and the upcoming deployment of 18 electric buses. “The danger of fossil fuels is growing-we will eliminate them,” he said, adding that rail system projects are ready and financing discussions are ongoing. He also mentioned EU-funded projects exceeding 4 billion Turkish Lira aimed at resolving sewage and treatment issues along Mersin’s coastline.
Highlighting the importance of technology and digital transformation, Seçer stated that artificial intelligence will profoundly reshape life, accelerating time and intensifying competition. “We can overcome all challenges with reason, science, and research—not with conflict, rhetoric, or war.”
He concluded by recalling Atatürk’s famous words: “Peace at home, peace in the world,” affirming their commitment to peace, unity, and coexistence both in Mersin and globally.