Mayor Eşki Received the ELoGE Award in Ankara:
“This honor certifies our commitment to the rule of law and human rights.”

Bornova Municipality has been awarded the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE), granted by the Council of Europe and regarded as the highest indicator of good governance. Mayor Ömer Eşki received the award at a ceremony in Ankara from Cecilia Dalman Eek, Vice President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and Chair of the ELoGE Accreditation Platform. Emphasizing that democracy is going through a challenging period globally, Mayor Eşki stated that Bornova’s participatory, transparent, and human rights–based governance approach has now been internationally certified through an evaluation based on 12 principles, 36 objectives, and 72 indicators. The ELoGE Label stands as concrete proof that Bornova Municipality operates in line with European governance standards.

By earning the right to use the label until the end of 2026, Bornova Municipality has officially certified its administrative capacity at European standards.

Mayor Eşki: “This award is especially meaningful at a time when democracy faces serious challenges”

In his speech at the ceremony, Mayor Ömer Eşki addressed the global challenges confronting democracy:

“Not only in local governments, but unfortunately across the world, universal democracy is going through very difficult times. In many countries that were once pioneers of democratization, totalitarian and strong-leader concepts have advanced rapidly. We are increasingly confronted with more rigid leadership styles. This is one of the main factors undermining public trust. Every day we witness parliamentary systems losing strength, those who believe in peace and the rule of law losing influence, while totalitarian leaders and single-man rule gain power.”

Highlighting the significance of receiving the ELoGE award in such a climate, Eşki explained the evaluation process:

“In such a period, our municipality was assessed across 12 main principles, 36 strategic objectives, and 72 concrete indicators. The evaluation, conducted by the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) and the Union of Municipalities of Turkey, found us compliant. Certification of our participatory approach in community relations, transparency in expenditures, and efficiency in service delivery has brought us great honor. This is confirmation of our commitment to the rule of law and our sensitivity to human rights. It also demonstrates how ambitious and determined we are in maintaining our European Union vision, even as that aspiration appears to be diminishing in our country.”

Mayor Eşki concluded by stating that the award represents an ongoing commitment that must be sustained every day.

What is ELoGE?

The European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE) was created by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe to measure and certify the democratic performance of local governments.

In Turkey, the process is carried out under the authorization of the Council of Europe, coordinated by the Argüden Governance Academy, hosted by the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB), and managed by a National Platform including the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) and university representatives.

The evaluation system is based on:

• 12 main principles

• 36 strategic objectives

• 72 concrete indicators

The process relies not only on declarations but also on cross-evaluations of institutional documents such as strategic plans, budget reports, and council decisions, as well as surveys conducted among staff, council members, and citizens.

The 12 Principles of Good Governance

The ELoGE system evaluates municipalities based on 12 fundamental principles, including participation, transparency, rule of law, ethical conduct, financial discipline, sustainability, human rights, accountability, and institutional capacity.

Bornova Municipality’s achievement of this label demonstrates that its participatory governance model, transparent financial structure, sensitivity to human rights, and institutional capacity have been approved at the international level.

A Strategic Gain for Bornova

The ELoGE Label is not merely a mark of prestige. It also provides important advantages such as:

• A high-reliability reference in international grant and funding applications

• An objective data foundation for strategic planning

• A requirement for continuous improvement that sustains institutional dynamism

Among the municipalities granted the right to use the label until the end of 2026 are six metropolitan municipalities and ten district municipalities. By joining this distinguished list, Bornova Municipality has positioned itself among exemplary local governments in Turkey that meet good governance standards.

Internationally Certified Municipal Governance

Bornova Municipality’s entitlement to the ELoGE Label represents international certification of its transparent, accountable, participatory, and human rights–based municipal governance model. This achievement confirms that Bornova is positioned not only as a strong local authority but also as a model municipality operating in line with European governance standards.