On the way back from Ankara, the delegation chat was still buzzing: a thank you message from a Turkish counterpart, a snapshot from the final meeting, a line someone suggested for the wrap-up quote. Three days in two cities does not fix a democracy. But they can make something clear: when local leaders stand together, it gets harder to silence them.
That was the spirit European mayors brought to Istanbul and Ankara from 25-27 February in a mission to shine a spotlight on local democracy.
Eurocities President and Mayor of Ghent, Mathias De Clercq, underscored the urgency of the moment: “The erosion of democracy in Turkey, but also in many other parts of Europe, should be a wake-up call for us all. It is a reminder that democracy is not guaranteed. It is vulnerable. It requires constant care and the courage to defend it, often at a very high personal cost.”
Mayors for democracy
From the first briefing to the final debrief, one idea anchored the visit jointly organised by Eurocities and the Balkan Cities Network B40: democracy flourishes where municipalities can act freely, represent their residents and deliver services without political interference. That principle is not a slogan; it is a practical test of the rule of law that cities live every day.
“When states fail, cities become shelters. Democracy is lived daily, in our neighbourhoods, our schools, and our spaces of expression and culture,” said Jean-Luc Romero, Deputy Mayor of Paris.
When states fail, cities become shelters. Democracy is lived daily, in our neighbourhoods, our schools, and our spaces of expression and culture
De Clercq emphasised the stakes for all of Europe: “Human rights, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful protest are not optional. They are the foundations on which our collective prosperity and freedom were built. These values must be protected, cherished, and actively defended every single day, both within and beyond the EU.”
He also called for stronger EU action: “We urge the European Commission to adopt a clearer stance, to take concrete measures to address the erosion of democratic practices in Turkey, and to intensify pressure on the Turkish government to release detained mayors.”
Why cities showed up
Over the past two years, European city leaders have kept a steady spotlight on pressure facing elected local officials and administrators in Turkey, condemning arrests and calling for municipal freedoms to be respected. The message has been consistent: when local autonomy is weakened, democracy erodes fastest.
“I stood with Ekrem İmamoğlu in Istanbul in 2025, and I am back today – because democracy does not defend itself,” said Tomislav Tomašević, President of the B40 Network and Mayor of Zagreb. “As President of the B40 network, I will keep coming back, again and again, to stand with my colleague and friend against a dangerous trend across Europe: using pretrial detention against elected local leaders. This is not happening only in Turkey – it is happening across Europe and beyond. When mayors are locked up without a trial, democracy itself is on trial.”
Today, from Istanbul, we send a clear message: democracy belongs to the people. And as long as cities stand together and refuse to look away, authoritarianism will not prevail
This mission picks up a long running story. In August 2025, a first group of Eurocities-led mayors travelled to Istanbul to underline that cities defend democracy from the ground up; that visit helped keep attention on the situation and affirmed a Europe-wide concern for the rule of law at local level. The latest delegation carried that strong message forward, linking city-to-city solidarity with practical follow through.
“The protection of local autonomy, democratic participation, and the administrative capacity of municipalities represent essential pillars for the stability and development of our countries,” said Alessandro Ghinelli, Mayor of Arezzo. “The relations between European and Turkish municipalities have great potential. Through dialogue and cooperation, we can build cities that are more resilient, more innovative, and more attuned to the needs of their citizens.”
Public moments
The delegation – which comprised Mathias de Clercq, President of Eurocities & Mayor of Ghent; Tomislav Tomašević, President of the B40 Network & Mayor of Zagreb; Eirik Lae Solberg, Governing Mayor of Oslo; Alessandro Ghinelli, Mayor of Arezzo; Jean-Luc Romero, Deputy Mayor of Paris; and André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities – stood in solidarity with Ekrem İmamoğlu, the imprisoned Mayor of Istanbul, whose arrest in March 2025 remains a focal point of concern.
The protection of local autonomy, democratic participation, and the administrative capacity of municipalities represent essential pillars for the stability and development of our countries
Although the mayors were not allowed to visit their colleague in prison, they expressed their solidarity by joining one of the local rallies organised every week since Mayor İmamoğlu’s arrest nearly one year ago, and by voicing their support during meetings with Turkish mayors and in front of the press.
In two powerful moments, Mathias De Clercq handed a dragon, the symbol of freedom in the City of Ghent, to Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu, wife of the now imprisoned mayor; and Jean-Luc Romero handed her honorary citizenship of the City of Paris for Ekrem İmamoğlu.
“In Paris, a city of human rights, we uphold a powerful symbolic instrument: honorary citizenship of the City of Paris,” explained Romero. “This distinction is awarded by the Paris City Council to those who defend fundamental freedoms around the world, often at the cost of their personal freedom.”
“This gesture is an act of solidarity and vigilance,” he continued. “It means Paris and its partners remain attentive to the respect of fundamental rights and the rule of law.”
Illustrating the potential of city diplomacy, the mayors also met with the EU mission in Turkey and the ambassadors of their countries to express their views and expectations from the EU institutions and national governments.
A wider story cities refuse to ignore
When mayors are locked up without a trial, democracy itself is on trial
European cities have connected the dots between this work and other moments of municipal solidarity – including support for Ukraine – to show that when local leaders coordinate, they can keep democratic values and human dignity on the agenda and back words with action.
“Oslo stands with Ekrem İmamoğlu, the democratically elected Mayor of Istanbul, who has been wrongfully accused, imprisoned, and subjected to political persecution,” said Eirik Lae Solberg, Governing Mayor of Oslo. “What is happening to him is unacceptable and deeply troubling. That is why, together with leaders from other European cities, I am calling for the immediate release of Ekrem İmamoğlu and all other political prisoners detained nearly a year ago.
“İmamoğlu must be free to carry out the mandate voters gave him as Mayor of Istanbul – and he must be allowed to stand as a presidential candidate in free and fair elections. İmamoğlu’s fight is our fight.”
Throughout the mission, the same refrain surfaced in different words: defend the space where local government works – procurement, basic services, public participation – and you defend the place where people feel democracy.
Oslo stands with Ekrem İmamoğlu, the democratically elected Mayor of Istanbul, who has been wrongfully accused, imprisoned, and subjected to political persecution
De Clercq’s message was strong: “Today, from Istanbul, we send a clear message: democracy belongs to the people. And as long as cities stand together and refuse to look away, authoritarianism will not prevail.”
What’s next
Eurocities will continue to monitor the situation and support Turkish partners, including by developing capacity-building activities and projects to build prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive cities.
Eurocities will also contribute to the International Observatory of Mayors at Risk launched by the City of Istanbul, particularly in its advocacy towards the EU institutions and national governments. More broadly, Eurocities will advocate for democracy, including at the Mayors Summit being held at Eurocities’ Annual Conference in Utrecht from 8-10 June – because when cities unite, their lights shine brighter.
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Take a look at all the photos from the Eurocities and B40 mission here: Eurocities delegation to Istanbul, 27-28 August 2025 | Flickr
