Schedule

The panel will bring together the key representatives of a number of local authorities that are the beneficiaries of grants projects under the Town Twinning Grants Scheme, together with their partners from EU Member States. These local authorities, identified as “best practices” on the basis of various themes, comprise notable case studies in relation to their respective themes, as well as displaying outstanding examples of collaboration with their EU counterparts.

The purpose of the Town Twinning Action Between Turkey and the EU Grant Scheme is to create sustainable structures for stimulating mutual exchange between local authorities in Turkey and the EU Member States in areas relevant to the EU accession through town twinning actions. 23 grant scheme projects are funded in 19 different provinces of Turkey within the scope of Grant Scheme, in partnership with local authorities and civil society organisations from 12 EU Member States.

The panel will aim at providing a platform for the exchange of information and sharing experiences in relation to the Town Twinning Grants Scheme. Special emphasis will be placed on drawing attention to the significance of the thematic approach to town twinning in building fruitful and sustainable partnerships. Presentations and discussions will also be targeted to evaluate the extent to which the grant projects presented as best practices have addressed and contributed to the respective thematic priorities set forth under the Town Twinning Grants Scheme.

The following points of discussion, among others, will be addresses during the session:

• What are the common aspects of “best practices” in different contexts and themes?

• Thematic approach to town twinning: What is the added value?

• What are the lessons learnt from each project?

• Best practices: How can their sustainability and applicability be achieved?

The panel will have a special focus on the challenge of localising the SDGs. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Without disregarding the significance of each SDG, the main emphasis of the panel will be placed on SDG 11 (“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”). In highlighting the crucial role of local authorities in this context, respective presentations will also lay a due emphasis on the particular role that town twinning can play in localising the SDGs.

The following points of discussion, among others, will be addresses during the session:

• The bumpy road from “Agenda 21” (Rio’92) to “2030 Agenda”: How far did local governments go in becoming acknowledged “partners” of central governments in localising the SDGs?

• What are the current policies in the EU and in Turkey toward committing to and attaining SDGs and their localisation?

• How can town twinning be instrumental in localising the SDGs, and in particular SDG 11?

• What are the primary opportunities and bottlenecks for the local authorities in localising the SDGs?

One of the main outputs of the Town Twinning between Turkey and the EU (TWIN) Project is the preparation of a Roadmap for effective town twinning in Turkey, building upon the analysis on the legal and financial framework for town twinning between Turkey and the EU. The Roadmap is envisaged to provide guidance towards more effective and widespread conduct of town twinning initiatives in Turkey. The Roadmap is targeted to contribute to increasing the quantity and quality of town twinning initiatives involving in particular local authorities in Turkey and in EU Member States, including effective promotion and involvement of key stakeholders such as civil society and citizens at local level.

The discussions, to be conducted via the interactive and participatory method of “Open Space”, will focus, among others, on highlighting the principles of good governance in relation to town twinning roadmap, nation-wide strategy on town twinning, capacity development of relevant institutions, involvement of local stakeholders, and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, as well as on sustainability issues.

The following points of discussion, among others, will be addresses during the session:

• Town twinning in the EU and Turkey: Where does a comparative perspective lead us?

• What are the structural bottlenecks and areas of improvement in relation to town twinning?

• What are the main policy areas and goals that require special attention for developing the roadmap for effective town twinning for Turkey?

• How can the principles of “good governance” be integrated into town twinning roadmap?

• How can the ownership of relevant public institutions in relation to the roadmap be attained in order to facilitate its implementation?

The discussions, to be conducted via the interactive and participatory method of “Open Space”, will focus on the “road ahead” for town twinning. In order to stimulate the interaction among the participants, special facilitation techniques will be adapted, using state-of-the-art participatory methodologies.

The discussions will be aimed at focusing on, among others, strengths and weaknesses of town twinning, how progress will be measured and monitored, “success criteria” in town twinning partnerships, and indicators for sustainable town twinning.

The following points of discussion, among others, will be addresses during the session:

• Does twinning have a future vis-à-vis “networking”?

• New and innovative means of twinning in the future: Realistic or “wishful thinking”?

• Elevating town twinning to higher grounds: Is there a “next level”?

• Twinning in the future: What are the next steps?