The European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE), granted by the Council of Europe to local governments that embrace and commit to developing a culture of good governance, was presented to thirteen municipalities during a ceremony hosted by the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT) on Thursday, December 12. Considering their efforts and commitments, the municipalities that acquired the right to use the Label are Adana, Amasya, Ankara, Avcılar, Bağcılar, Balıkesir, Eskişehir, Etimesgut, Gaziantep, Kadıköy, Melikgazi, Niğde and Sultanbeyli.

Applications were assessed by an independent jury of experienced bureaucrats, academics, and civil society representatives, based on the criteria established by the Council of Europe.

The event opened with speeches from distinguished representatives; Niall Sheerin, Vice President of the Council of Europe’s Center of Expertise in Good Governance; Mario Žuliček, Board Member of the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA); Dr. Şengül Altan Arslan, Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, and Dr. Yılmaz Argüden, Chairman of the Trustees of the Argüden Governance Academy.

Following the opening speeches, Dr. Erkin Erimez and Dr. İnan İzci, members of the Academic Board of the Argüden Governance Academy, along with Jury Committee Representative and former Governor Enver Salihoğlu, provided an overview of the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE). After the presentation, the municipalities were presented with the Label.

The Governance Journey of Municipalities

Dr. Şengül Altan Arslan, Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, said; “Local governments can establish trust only by ensuring participatory decision-making processes, inclusive services, and transparent practices. As the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB), we are committed to promoting these values and offering guidance to municipalities dedicated to achieving these principles. We are pleased to be involved in the process of ELoGE, developed by the Council of Europe and aligned with the objectives of our union, in our country. ”

Niall Sheerin, Vice President of the Council of Europe’s Center of Expertise in Good Governance, said; “The ELoGE, coordinated by the Argüden Governance Academy in Türkiye, is a key initiative aimed at strengthening the governance capacities of municipalities. The increase in the number of municipalities granted the right to use the Label from 2 to 13 within three years reflects a strong commitment by local governments in Türkiye to enhancing their governance practices and upholding the principles of democratic governance. This progress paves the way for municipalities to improve their performance and build stronger connections with their communities. The involvement and support of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye in this process are highly valuable to us.”

Mario Žuliček, Board Member of the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), said; “Democracy signifies a process of social development and continuous improvement. In this context, local governments play a crucial role as drivers of change within society. ELoGE seeks to enhance governance effectiveness by providing municipalities with the opportunity to assess and improve their practices. Moreover, ELoGE promotes core democratic values such as strengthening human rights, fostering transparency, and upholding ethical principles. As ALDA, we are committed to supporting these values and working with local governments to enhance their democratic processes.”

Dr. Yılmaz Argüden, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Argüden Governance Academy, said; “The European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE), serves as a valuable guide for local governments on their journey towards good governance. We take pride in seeing municipalities that have been part of this journey consistently improve their governance standards, alongside those newly joined the ELoGE process. Their collective success strengthens the culture of good governance in Türkiye. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all municipalities that have earned this recognition.”

What is the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE)?

The ELoGE was developed by the Council of Europe (CoE) to raise awareness, standardize governance quality, and promote good governance at the local level. Local governments holding or pursuing the Label are recognized for their efforts to enhance governance practices. The Label is managed by the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance (CEGG) which develops standards and tools under the control of the CoE’s European Committee on Democracy and Governance and granted to municipalities which have processes of good governance measured against a Council of Europe benchmark.

Argüden Governance Academy
Argüden Governance Academy is a non-profit foundation dedicated to improve the quality of governance in public, non‑profit, private, and international organizations. The Academy adopts a holistic and integrated view of governance to help improve trust for institutions for their sustainable success. The Academy forms partnerships with international organizations, universities, public institutions, companies, and NGOs for better deployment of good governance culture in order to improve quality of life for current and future generations.

The Union of Municipalities of Türkiye
The Union of Municipalities of Türkiye was established in 1945 as a public benefit association to operate in the field of municipalism and continued its activities in municipalism as an association for 57 years in order to protect the rights and interests of municipalities under the umbrella of the association. The Union of Municipalities of Türkiye gained the status of a union of local administrations with the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 21 August 2002 and numbered 2002/4559 in order to gather all municipalities in Türkiye under one roof. On 28.09.2005 by the Ministry of Interior, the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, has gained the feature of being the only local government union that has the authority to represent municipalities at national and international level and where all municipalities are natural members.

European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA)
ALDA was established in 1999 at the initiative of the Council of Europe to coordinate and support the network of the Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs), which are self- sustainable, locally registered NGOs acting as promoters of good governance and local self-government, with which ALDA collaborates in many activities. ALDA is an association dedicated to the promotion of good governance and citizen participation at the local level in the European Union, its Neighborhood and beyond.

Altınbaş University
Founded under the name “Istanbul Kemerburgaz University” by Mehmet Altınbaş Education and Culture Foundation in 2008, the university proceeds on its way towards the future after its name was changed to “Altınbaş University” in 2017. With its strong academic staff adding value to universal knowledge, its global structure, international collaborations, and its entrepreneurial, innovative and competitive vision, the university enables students to develop and maintain a broader perspective all the time.