İzmir Economic Development Coordination Board held its 118th meeting. Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerAt the meeting hosted by .
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, 118th meeting of İzmir Economic Development Coordination Board (İEKKK) Tunç SoyerIt was hosted by Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center (AASSM). At the meeting, chaired by Mehmet Ali Kasalı, the works carried out in İzmir, one of the 2026 European cities that made it to the finals in the 5 European Youth Capital candidacy, were discussed. Minister Tunç Soyer, stating that he believes Izmir will take this title, said, “In this way, we will gain gains for the youth in many different fields such as culture, art, literature, music, sports and tourism. We will have the chance to promote all the work with young people in the international arena, to promote Izmir and to raise more funds for youth work. The title of European Youth Capital means a great success not only for İzmir but also for Turkey.”
“We played a leading role”
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Social Projects Department Head Anıl Kaçar made a presentation on the road map prepared for İzmir to be the European Youth Capital. Anıl Kaçar said, “The selected cities have the opportunity to present cultural, social, political, economic life and development programs related to young people during this period. Izmir, which has applied to be the European Youth Capital, has the title of the only city from Turkey to make it to the finals for the second time, considering its candidacy in 2024 and 2025. In our application to be the European Youth Capital in 2025, we were the only city from Turkey that applied. We played a leading role in making Ankara, Konya and Antalya applications from Turkey for the 2026 European Youth Capital.”
Aegean Young Businessmen Association (EGİAD) Chairman of the Board of Directors Alp Avni Yelkenbiçer also shared the İzmir Entrepreneurship Research Report they prepared.
“European Youth Capital”
Izmir and Malaga from Spain, Sarajevo from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tromso from Norway and Vila do Conde from Portugal will also compete for the title of 2026 European Youth Capital.
The title of European Youth Capital is seen as an important step to increase the opportunities for cultural, social, political-economic life and development programs for young people and to improve more livable urban ecosystems for young people.
Work on the 2026 European Youth Capital application will continue throughout the year in partnership with the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality City Council Youth Assembly, in cooperation with the relevant units of the Metropolitan Municipality and with different institutions, organizations and organizations that carry out youth work. Having successfully completed the first of the 3-stage application process, İzmir, which made it to the finals, will proceed with a participatory method with the non-governmental organizations in İzmir for the 2nd and 3rd applications to be made in June and August.