The application process for the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE), developed by the Council of Europe to strengthen a culture of good governance in local administrations, has been completed. Following the preliminary applications, the full application phase has concluded and the independent jury evaluation has begun.
31 October 2025
Municipalities applying to ELoGE, which aims to enhance the quality of local governance, undergo a multi-dimensional assessment that includes self-evaluation surveys, feedback from municipal staff and council members, as well as input from citizens. Through this process, municipalities are holistically evaluated to determine the extent to which they align with the core good governance principles that form the basis of ELoGE—such as participation, transparency, accountability, ethical conduct, rule of law, effectiveness, and sustainability.
With the completion of the full application stage, all declarations and evidence submitted by municipalities are now being reviewed by an independent jury. The evaluation is based on documentation that makes municipal governance practices visible from both internal and external perspectives. Jury members will conduct a thorough review, identifying both the strengths of municipalities and the areas where improvement is needed. This year’s jury consists of:
ELoGE stands out as an important development and capacity-building tool that enables local administrations to measure their governance quality through an objective framework, identify concrete areas for improvement, and strengthen their trust-based relationship with citizens. Beyond offering a “label,” ELoGE provides municipalities with an opportunity to review their institutional processes, align their practices with contemporary governance standards, and enhance their capacity to deliver sustainable public services.
Once the jury evaluation is completed, the results will be shared with the public, and municipalities that meet the good governance principles at a high level will be awarded the European Label of Governance Excellence for a period of one year. The results will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Ankara in January.
As the Academy, we congratulate all municipalities contributing to the strengthening of local governance and hope that the ELoGE journey will continue to advance a more inclusive, democratic, and trust-based local administration culture in Türkiye.
