The Council of Europe’s report “Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe,” published in May 2025, was discussed at the local level in Türkiye for the first time through a dedicated workshop.

The event opened with speeches by Suat Yıldız, Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, and Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Dr. İnan İzci, Member of the Academy’s Academic Board, shared the report’s key findings and recommendations regarding the future of democracy.

Throughout the workshop, intensive discussions were held under the themes of learning and practicing democracy, protecting democracy, and innovating for democracy. Participants addressed current challenges and potential solutions for strengthening local democracy, with particular emphasis on transparency, inclusiveness, accountability, and innovative approaches to enhancing the participation of youth and women in decision-making processes.

With the participation of nearly 100 stakeholders, the workshop highlighted the importance of building trust and fostering participation at the local level as a way to strengthen the resilience of democracy at national and international scales. It was agreed that the findings and recommendations from the workshop would be consolidated into a report to be shared with both the Council of Europe and the public in Türkiye.

As Argüden Governance Academy, we are proud to contribute to this significant process shaping the future of democracy and to bring together diverse local actors to generate collective wisdom.

Related People

Dr. İnan İzci

Academic Council Member

Mathieu Mori

Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Suat Yıldız

Secretary General of The Union of Municipalities of Türkiye