Akın Stressed Need for Metropolitan Involvement in Decision-Making
Balıkesir Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Akın emphasized at the European Metropolis Association (EMA) Forum held in Istanbul that decisions concerning metropolises should involve their active participation.
20 October 2026, 10:48 · Balıkesir Büyükşehir Belediyesi
This story was automatically translated from the Turkish original.
Balıkesir Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Akın spoke at the 2026 European Metropolis Association (EMA) Forum, set to take place in Istanbul.
Akın underscored that decisions regarding metropolises should be made with strong input from the cities themselves. He expressed hope that this approach would gain stronger recognition in Europe’s upcoming policy and funding frameworks.
The forum addressed topics such as climate-related water risks, digital transformation, and European Union policies. Akın highlighted the strategic importance of metropolises in shaping, implementing, and monitoring policies.
This marks the 11th edition of the EMA Forum, hosted this year by the Marmara Municipalities Union. The strategic location of Balıkesir within the Marmara Region was emphasized.
