EU Turkey Delegation Head to İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu: There is Great Responsibility on You

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İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has met with Ambassador Christian Berger, the head of European Union (EU) Delegation to Turkey at Fethi Paşa Woods in Üsküdar, İstanbul.

"I am honored to welcome you to one of the most beautiful places in İstanbul," İmamoğlu said to Berger.

Saying that he attaches great importance to the EU's approach to Turkey, İmamoğlu told his guest, "Cities and local administrations are the starting points of all of our thoughts. In this new period, we will be very sensitive and diligent in developing and producing our policies and cooperating with the EU healthy tables that we will establish together."

İmamoğlu stated that he finds the standards envisaged by the EU valuable and making arrangements in the city that would make people's lives easier is very important to them.

"Whomever you ask on the streets in İstanbul, transportation is the priority," he said, adding that they aim to approach transportation "in a humanistic manner" that prioritizes health.

Berger: Refugees added to the problems of İstanbul

Ambassador Christian Berger said that İstanbul is a bigger place than many European countries and added that İmamoğlu's position adds a "different and heavy responsibility

"There is a different, heavy burden and responsibility that these authorities add to you. Therefore, being in direct contact with citizens, especially in metropolitan cities, is a solution. In order to solve the problems, it is very important for us to work with people who understand what the problems are."

"In this context, we establish close relations in many parts of your country. Refugees have also been added to your issues. So, as you mentioned, there is a lot of room for cooperation.

"Of course, the development of transportation facilities is also very important for the economy. At the same time, traffic congestion is a situation that has huge costs. Only in İstanbul, there is an additional cost of 2 billion euros. It's a very high figure." (RT/VK)