UCLG-MEWA EXECUTIVE BUREAU AND COUNCIL JOINT MEETING TOOK PLACE IN ADANA 30.12.2014

UCLG-MEWA Executive Bureau and Council Joint Meeting took place in Adana on 19 December 2014 at the kind invitation of Adana Metropolitan Municipality and with the contribution of Union of Municipalities of Turkey. The opening speeches were made by Mehmet DUMAN, UCLG-MEWA Secretary General, Hüseyin SÖZLÜ, Mayor of Adana, Selim Yücel GÜLEÇ representing Tahir AKYÜREK, Mayor of Konya and UCLG-MEWA Co-President, Gültan KIŞANAK, Mayor of Diyarbakır and UCLG-MEWA Co-President, Goshtasb MOZAFARI, representing Dr. Mohammed Bager QALIBAF, Mayor of Tehran and UCLG-MEWA President, Kadir TOPBAŞ, Mayor of Istanbul and President of UCLG World Organization . After the opening speeches, the meeting continued with the presentation of the agenda of the meeting, UCLG-MEWA Report of Activities, and Ombudsman Report. Furthermore, 2014 Financial Report, 2015 Draft Programme of Activities , 2015 Draft Budget and UCLG-MEWA Bylaws were negotiated and proposed amendments were adopted. Applications for UCLG-MEWA Membership and Applications for Resignation from UCLG-MEWA Membership were negotiated and adopted. 19 applications for membership from local government and local government associations were accepted with consensus. Moreover, proposal of UCLG-MEWA being the official observer of Arab Towns Organization was accepted with consensus.

The establishment of Committees on ‘’Smart Cities’’, ‘’Environment’’, ‘’Social Inclusion’’, ‘’Local Governance’’, ‘’Development Cooperation and City Diplomacy’’, and ‘’Gender Equality’’ were finalized at the UCLG-MEWA Executive Bureau and Council Joint Meeting. These committees are expected to be in harmony with activities of UCLG World Organization in the future, and aim at sharing knowledge and experiences among its members and pioneering launching of shared projects in related areas.

UCLG-MEWA Executive Bureau and Council Joint Meeting ,which attracted intensive attention and followed by a crowded member community, was concluded successfully after the closing speeches and presentation of plaques and presents.