Mayor Aras Travels to Sofia for the B40 Summit

24 Feb. Mayor Aras Travels to Sofia for the B40 Summit

President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Aras traveled to Bulgaria to attend the B40 Sofia Summit. During the summit, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality officially became a member of the Balkan Cities Network.

Mayor Ahmet Aras participated in the B40 Summit held in Sofia to strengthen cooperation among Balkan cities. The summit, which took place in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia from February 23 to 25, was also attended by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay, Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Candan Yüceer, Çanakkale Mayor Muharrem Erkek, and Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan Akın. During the summit, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality’s membership in the Balkan Cities Network was formalized.

The Balkan Cities Network Was Established in Istanbul in 2021

To strengthen cooperation in local governance across the Balkans, the B40 Balkan Cities Network was established following the Istanbul Summit held on November 29-30, 2021, with the signing of the Istanbul Declaration by 23 mayors.

Aiming to unite local governments from the Balkans, which form the eastern border of the European Union and the western gateway of Eurasia, this network serves as a significant platform where mayors and delegations discuss the future of local governance, joint solutions, and areas of cooperation. B40 covers a wide range of collaborative efforts, from the preservation of cultural heritage to digital transformation, green energy initiatives, and migration.

Many municipalities have become members of the B40 Balkan Cities Network since its establishment in 2021. Istanbul, Izmir, Muğla, Tekirdağ Metropolitan Municipalities and Çanakkale, Edirne, Kırklareli Municipalities are members of the Balkan Cities Network from Turkey. From the Balkan countries, 73 municipalities from Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina are members.

Muğla’s Membership Approved at the B40 Summit

At the B40 Summit held in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, on February 23-25, Muğla Metropolitan Municipality’s membership in the Balkan Cities Network was finalized.

Mayor Aras: “Muğla Will Be an Important Part of the Balkan Cities Network”

President of the Coastal Aegean Municipalities Union and Mayor of Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Aras stated that the B40 Summit strengthens cooperation between municipalities in Türkiye and neighboring countries and that they are working together on joint projects for a more livable world.

Mayor Aras said: “The Balkan Cities Network, founded in 2021, continues to grow stronger with its expanding structure and the cooperative efforts of its member municipalities. This year, we are gathering with fellow mayors in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The membership of our Muğla Metropolitan Municipality has also been officially confirmed at this summit. We are happy and proud to be a part of this network.”

During his speech at the B40 Summit, Mayor Aras added: “As Balkan Cities, we are taking significant steps in ‘Local Economic and Cultural Cooperation, Regional Trade, Tourism, and the Development of Cultural Ties.’ For Muğla, a significant tourism and culture hub, we have established the Tourism Research and Strategy Development platform, bringing together all stakeholders to develop sustainable tourism policies. We promote all 13 of our districts together at international fairs. We will make Muğla, a world city, the capital of tourism and culture. Through such summits, we share our international collaborations and experiences. We will implement the best projects together for the citizens of our Balkan cities, which are interconnected through cultural and historical ties.”