Bornova’s Success at European Standards Officially Recognized

Bornova Municipality has been awarded the European Label of Governance Excellence (ELoGE), regarded by the Council of Europe as the highest indicator of good governance, once again certifying its management quality at the international level. Receiving the award from Şengül Altan Arslan, Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki stated that they would continue working in line with the same principles.

Standing out with its achievements in democracy and transparency, Bornova has earned the right to use this prestigious label until the end of 2026. As one of the selected municipalities granted this distinction—awarded to only six metropolitan municipalities and ten district municipalities in Türkiye—Bornova Municipality has demonstrated the strength of its institutional capacity. Mayor Ömer Eşki received the ELoGE award from Şengül Altan Arslan during her visit to the municipality.

Mayor Eşki: “We Will Apply Again This Year”

Highlighting the global decline of democracy and the rise of authoritarian tendencies, Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that the ELoGE award is particularly meaningful in the current period.

“At a time like this, receiving this award after being evaluated against 12 core principles, 36 strategic objectives, and 72 concrete indicators is a great honor. The recognition of our participatory, transparent, and efficient governance approach demonstrates how strongly we believe in the European Union vision, which is unfortunately losing momentum in our country.”

Mayor Eşki also stressed the importance of sustainable governance, stating that Bornova Municipality aims to add new links to its chain of excellence and will once again apply for the ELoGE Label this year.

Full Marks from the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye

Şengül Altan Arslan, Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT), one of the organizations facilitating the process in Türkiye, expressed her satisfaction with Bornova Municipality’s visionary governance approach and meticulous work.

Arslan stated that they highly appreciate Bornova’s exemplary structure, which serves as a model for other local governments.

What Is ELoGE? Rigorous Evaluation Based on 12 Core Principles

Implemented under the authorization of the Council of Europe, coordinated by the Argüden Governance Academy, and hosted in Türkiye by the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, the ELoGE process involves a comprehensive assessment of municipalities.

The evaluation goes beyond declarations; strategic plans, budgets, council decisions, staff surveys, and citizen surveys are all cross-checked. By meeting the 12 core principles—including participation, transparency, rule of law, financial discipline, and human rights—Bornova has earned a highly valuable international reference that will also strengthen its applications for grants and funding opportunities worldwide.