UNION OF MUNICIPALITIES OF THE MARMARA REGION

THE MARMARA REGION

The area of activity of the Union covers the Marmara Region which is Turkey’s most important region and a bridge between Europe and Asia. So the Union is the unique regional union of local authorities in the world which is active in two continents. Moreover, İstanbul, the centre of the union, is the only city having territory in both Europe and Asia.   

Istanbul, a megacity with its 12 million inhabitants, is the most important city of the country and the centre of the Union. The Marmara Region with its total population of more than 20 million inhabitants is the economic and cultural centre of Turkey and represents 60% of the country’s economy. It is Turkey’s leading region from many aspects including industrial facilities, energy consumption, large transportation network and tourism incomes and has an above-average population density.

Our Union has 276 members and is active in 11 provinces: Istanbul, Edirne, Kırklareli, Tekirdağ, Çanakkale, Kocaeli, Yalova, Sakarya, Bilecik, Bursa and Balıkesir.

UNION’S GOAL

The Union’s goal is to strive for strengthening of local authorities and democracy through development of cooperation and solidarity among municipalities; to make efforts for establishment and generalizing in Turkey and among its member municipalities of a concept of local government with democratic, participative, transparent and accountable nature and based on principles of individual rights and freedoms.

UNION’S LEGAL BASE AND STATUS

Unions of Local Authorities are public organisations with a corporate body established according to the Constitution and the Law on Unions of Local Authorities. In areas indicated in the Union Statutes, the Union possesses the rights, authority and privileges held by municipalities. The Union is entitled to represent its members and to provide common services in spheres where member municipalities vested authority in the Union.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE UNION

Municipalities in the provinces located in the Union’s (geographical) area of activity become member of the Union after accepting decision of the Union Assembly taken upon municipal council’s decision for membership and acceptation of the Union’s Statutes. Membership to the Union is optional.

FOUNDATION AND BRIEF HISTORY

The Union of Municipalities of The Marmara Region was established on April 25th, 1975. The headquarters of the Union was initially in İzmit. The General Assembly held on May 29th, 1977 decided to transfer the Union’s headquarters to Istanbul.

The Union of Municipalities of the Marmara Region is Turkey’s oldest and most inclusive Union with regional status and is forerunner in such areas as development of a democratic local government movement in Turkey, advancement of municipal authority and increase in resources, environmental consciousness-raising among local authorities, solution of municipalities’ common problems through cooperation, establishment of metropolitan municipalities and representation of municipalities in international local authorities organisations.

UNION’S AREA OF ACTIVITY

In the Union’s Statutes and Strategic Plan (2006-2009) the Union’s area of activity is described as follows:

* To establish cooperation and exchange of information among municipalities for sustainable and balanced development of the Marmara Region;
* To support and to encourage municipal activities aiming at protection of natural and cultural values of the Marmara Region;
* To strive for establishment and generalizing of democratic, participative, transparent and accountable concept of local governance based on principles of individual rights and freedoms;
* To provide permanent training services to the Union members’ elected municipal representatives and municipal staff on main issues of city planning and municipal governing;
* To realize activities and to provide consultancy aiming at development of member municipalities’ capacity for better municipal services to citizen;
* To work for elaboration of Union’s position on legal and administrative regulations concerning municipalities and make necessary lobby work; 
* To represent member municipalities in various national and international platforms; to be their voice and to protect their rights and interests;
* In context of the EU accession process, to participate and to contribute to activities achieving harmonization of members with the EU Acquis.

INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE

Union Assembly

The Union Assembly is the decision making organ of the Union. It constitutes of mayors and members elected by municipal councils of member municipalities, number of which is determined in the Union’s Statutes. The Union Assembly adjudicates strategic plan, performance program, budget, annual work program, annual activity report and final accounts. It takes general decisions in accordance with objectives of the Union. The term of office of the members of the Union Assembly is 5 years, which is the general term of municipal councils.

Union Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is the Union’s executive and deliberative organ which takes executing decisions, watches over implementation of annual work plan and budget in light of the Union’s Statutes and decisions of the Union Assembly. The Union Executive Committee is comprised of 7 members elected by the Union Assembly among its members.

President of the Union

The Union President is elected from among mayors who are member of the Union Assembly. The President is elected for an initial 2-year term following local elections and then a subsequent 3-year term.  He is the President of the Union Assembly and the Union Executive Committee; he is the highest administrator and representative of the Union.

Organisation

The organisation of the Union of Municipalities of the Marmara Region consists of Secretariat General and related units in accordance with permanent staff regulations. The Secretary General of the Union is appointed by the President

of the Union. The Secretary General accomplishes the tasks of the Union on behalf and under the directives and responsibility of the President of the Union, in accordance with the regulatory provisions, objectives and politics of the Union, its strategic plan and annual programs.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

TRAINING ACTIVITIES ON LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Since its foundation, the Union always paid utmost attention to the training and qualification needs of local decision makers and municipal staff. It has accumulated an important knowledge in the field of training for local governments and has developed an efficient system in this field. Union’s training activities are based on two models functioning in parallel. These are the regular training seminars on one hand and the Local Governance Academy on another.

Training Seminars

The training seminars of the Union are regularly provided since the very beginning of its history. They are organised several times every year, depending on the demand from the member municipalities. The seminars focus mainly on technical issues that require permanent training for municipal staff.

Local Governance Academy

centre in the Union headquarters, the Academy has opened its branch in Bursa/Yildirim and plans to open in the coming years four more branches in different parts of the Marmara Region. Next to municipal decision makers and workers, every person interested in local governance and similar matters can attend the trainings and seminars of the Local Governance Academy.

In order to enhance further its training programs, the Local Governance Academy develops cooperation with similar training organisations abroad.

EU & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CENTRE

The Union has among its missions representing member municipalities in national and international platforms, advocating their rights and interests and providing necessary support to member municipalities in the context of accession process to the European Union. In order to implement these duties and to act as bridge between municipalities and the world, the Union has established within its structure an “EU & International Relations Centre”. This work is carried out in coordination and cooperation with member municipalities’ EU and External Relations units.

The Centre has three main working areas:

International Relations

• Cooperation with national and international unions and platforms of local authorities;
• Monitoring of international organisations’ policies having repercussions at local level;
• Twin-town relations;

European Union and accession process

• Monitoring of EU regional policies and constant dialogue with the EU institutions;
• Information and support to municipalities in the context of EU accession process
• EU and internationally funded projects and cooperation

Follow-up of EU Structural Funds, Pre-Accession Assistance and other international funds

• Development of multilateral cooperation projects.

OVERSEAS CONTACT AND STUDY PROGRAMS

Our Unions organises time after time overseas contact and study visit programs with participations of member municipalities in order to know better the municipal services abroad. The objective of this kind of programs is to allow our member municipalities to follow closely the developments in the field of municipal services and to give them the opportunity to meet their foreign colleagues. During these programs, they examine activities of the visited cities in various fields, such as transportation, infrastructure, waste management and environmental policy, protection of cultural and historical values, social services, urban participation and rights of citizen. On the other hand, these programs give opportunity of meeting foreign municipalities and lay the ground for establishment of bilateral cooperation and twinning relations.?

TURKISH-GERMAN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Turkish-German Centre for Environmental Management was established within the UMMR in the framework of the Technical Cooperation Agreement signed by Turkish and German governments, following the approval of Turkish Ministry of Interior at November 21st, 2006. Its objective is to implement training and awareness raising activities in the field of environment all over Turkey and to foster public-private partnership. The working office of the Centre is in the headquarters of UMMR and its activities are focused on three main subjects:

• Waste Management,
• Water and Water Waste Management,
• Energy Management.

The Centre provides information for all private and public institutions, organises training programs and gives support in implementation phase of environmental projects.

Contact Us	:	Union of Municipalities of the Marmara Region ZİNDANKAPI, Değirmen Sokak, No:15 Eminönü 34134 İstanbul / Türkiye
Phone	:	+90 212 513 56 50        (3 Lines)
Fax	:	+90 212 520 85 58
e-mail	:	info@marmara.gov.tr

www.marmara.gov.tr