• Home
  • About
    • Governance & Structure
      • The AER Executive Board
    • The AER Secretariat
    • Statute & Strategies
      • AER Statute
      • AER Procedures
    • The History of AER
  • Members
    • Who are AER’s members?
    • Member Directory
    • Join AER!
  • Mutual Learning
    • About Mutual Learning
    • The Knowledge Transfer Forum
    • Working Groups
      • Ongoing Working Groups
      • Past Working Groups
  • Advocacy
    • About Our Advocacy Work
    • The Bureau
    • The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
    • AER Political Priorities 2020-2025
    • Intercultural Regions Network
  • Projects
    • About Our Projects
    • Ongoing Projects
    • Look for Partners
    • Completed Projects
  • AER Programmes
    • AER Eurodyssey
    • AER SUMMER ACADEMY
    • AER Youth Regional Network (YRN)
    • AER Observatory on Regionalisation
  • Events
    • AER events
    • Other events
  • AER stands with Ukraine

Assembly of European Regions

Connecting regions, inspiring Europe since 1985

You are here: Home / News / Ongoing Decentralisation in Turkey

Ongoing Decentralisation in Turkey

21 September, 2006 By Editor

AER meeting in instanbul
Facebooktwitterlinkedinmail
Share this!


Strasbourg (F), 21 September 2006

Since last year, the Presidents of the Turkish Provinces* have been elected by the Provincial Council, the members of which are directly elected by the citizens. But this institutional reform in Turkey is only one step in an ongoing process. The role of the regions in Turkey will further increase. This was the main issue discussed between Riccardo Illy, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), and Mr Harput, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.

Harput stressed that Turkey is committed to further decentralisation in order to serve the citizens and their needs in a better way. This would also lead to the development of solid links between Provinces and citizens. President Illy strongly welcomed this view and promised that the AER and its members will give its support to the Turkish provinces in reaching their goals. “The AER fully shares these values of proximity to the citizen which will result in concrete projects. This is what we experience each day in our 255 Member Regions” he said. As a proof of this involvement, the AER Bureau has already welcomed the Province of Kahramanmaras as first Turkish AER member. In meetings with the Secretary Generals of some Turkish Provinces President Illy and Secretary Klaus Klipp discussed ways of concrete cooperation between the regions of Turkey and the other European countries.

President Illy also met Ministers and representatives from the Government and the civil society. This three-day marathon confirmed to Riccardo Illy that “Turkey is a modern and democratic country with continuing economic development and growth. Turkey is definitely on the way to meet the standards set by the EU and must have a chance to become a full partner of the European Union. Finally, we have to keep in mind that Turkey is the natural link for the dialogue with the Middle-East and the southern Mediterranean”, President Illy concluded.

* According to the AER’s ‘Declaration on regionalism in Europe’, “the region is the territorial body of public law established at the level immediately below that of the State and endowed with political self-government. The region shall be recognised in the national constitution or in legislation which guarantees its autonomy, identity, powers and organisational structures.” The Turkish provinces correspond to this definition.

For more information: [email protected]

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Filed Under: News, Vice-Presidency for International cooperation Tagged With: Decentralisation, Growth, Mediterranean, Mediterranean issues, Regionalisation, Subsidiarity

← How regions lobby in Brussels: AER Highlights Best Practice in Regional Interest Representation Disabilities open up a whole new perspective on regional societies →

More articles on this topic

We’re hiring the perfect promoter of regionalisation ! (now closed)
AER declaration: status quo is not an option
“What future for the regions” by Fredrik Söderbaum
Local and regional leaders urge Barroso to draw up ambitious EU budget and to consider their role in Europe 2020 strategy Brussels, 16 June 2011
Local and regional leaders urge Barroso to draw up ambitious EU budget and to consider their role in Europe 2020 strategy
AER meeting in instanbul
The Province of Istanbul hosts the AER: Over 80 Regions take a stand on decentralisation in Europe

AER. Connecting regions, inspiring Europe since 1985.

Follow our newsletter!




View previous campaigns.


  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Tweets by @europeanregions

Library

Statutory Documents
AER Strategies
Minutes
Media Kit
Activity Reports
Newsletters
European Regions Map

Join AER!

Become a Member

Job Opportunities

Sign up for our Newsletter

Search

Website map

Brussels · Strasbourg · Alba Iulia

A Network, a Partner and a Voice of European regions, since 1985 · Copyright © 2023 · Assembly of European Regions · [email protected] · Log in