Who We Are

Since its foundation in 1975, MMU has played an important role in the formation of a culture of agreement and collaboration among mayors and council members elected from different political parties, the development of coordination and cooperation between municipalities, increasing the authority and resources of municipalities, and representing municipalities at the international arena.

MMU carries on activities in areas such as environment, urbanization, migration and social cohesion, local diplomacy, local economic development, resilience, urban technology and innovation. On these areas, MMU’s activities include training, consulting, corporate capacity building, raising awareness, supporting scientific researches, advocating local democracy, and organizing events and meetings which gather relevant stakeholders.

Consisting of 192 member municipalities, Marmara Municipalities Union operates across 11 provinces, 6 of which are metropolitan municipalities (Balikesir, Bilecik, Bursa, Çanakkale, Edirne, Istanbul, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Tekirdağ and Yalova).

History

45 municipalities on the shores of the Marmara Sea and the Straits came together and decided to act jointly in 1973 with the aim of adopting the concept of democratic local government, conducting the central-local relations within the framework of democratic principles, expanding the initiative area of local administrations and finding solutions to environmental problems, and especially the pollution of the Marmara Sea.  As a result of these meetings, it was decided to establish a “Union” under the scope of the 7th Chapter (Articles 133-148) of the Municipal Law No. 1580. Marmara Municipalities Union was established on 25 April 1975 under the name of “Marmara and Bosporus Municipalities Union” following a 2-year preparation period. The center of the Union was originally chosen as Izmit; then it was moved to Istanbul upon the decision of the General Assembly of the Union dated 25 May 1977. The name of the Union was changed to “Marmara Municipalities Union” on 30 April 2009.