SUMP TÜRKİYE Project Officially Launched with an Opening Event!
The opening event of the “European Union Support for Sustainable Urban Mobility in Cities,” jointly financed by the Republic of Türkiye and the European Union, with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye as the ultimate beneficiary, took place in Ankara on February 1, 2023, with approximately 200 participants.
Experts working on sustainable urban mobility, stakeholders from various institutions and organizations, representatives from civil society, and delegates from relevant Ministries and the EU Türkiye Delegation attended the opening event, where municipalities participated both physically and online.
Implemented under the Transport Sectoral Operational Program (TSOP), the SUMP TÜRKİYE project has a budget of 2.29 million euros and will last a total of 36 months. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, General Directorate of EU and Foreign Relations, and the EU Investments Department are the contracting authorities for the project, closely monitored by both the EU Türkiye Delegation and the EU Presidency.
The opening event’s first speech and presentation were delivered by the President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye and Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Fatma Şahin. In her speech, President Şahin discussed efforts towards achieving sustainable mobility in Türkiye, emphasizing the importance of transforming the economy into ecology and sustainable development. She highlighted the need to protect and use our shared planet while addressing social justice, social peace, and environmental integrity.
Stressing the urgency for action after years of global discussions on these issues, Şahin underscored the impossibility of solving problems by a single municipality, country, or leader and emphasized the importance of collaboration. She stated, “We have been dealing with consequences – diseases, racism, pandemics, terrorism, crises, all are outcomes. However, the most cost-effective measures are preventive and protective.” Şahin discussed the idea and project competitions initiated by the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, emphasizing research on what should and should not be done. Addressing issues such as zero emissions, zero waste, and the fight against climate change, Şahin concluded her speech with the words, “Let’s walk together, run together; let’s build a clean world together.
