The European Council conveyed their gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Palancıoğlu, Mayor of Melikgazi, for organizing and hosting the 29th meeting of the European Union Committee of the Regions Turkey Relations Working Group on December 4, 2023, in Kayseri.

        The letter of appreciation from Antje Grotheer, Chair of the Turkey Working Group of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, to Mayor Palancıoğlu included the following expressions:

      "December 4, 2023 - I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again for your exceptional hospitality and excellent organization of the 29th meeting of the European Union Committee of the Regions Turkey Relations Working Group held at Melikgazi Municipality. Finally reuniting with you in Turkey after four years was truly a great pleasure, and despite the recent challenges we have faced, I am grateful for your determination and renewed invitation. I believe that this meeting was a true success, contributing to mutual understanding between the EU and Turkey through open and constructive exchanges of views. This successful gathering was an important opportunity to emphasize the significance of dialogue in overcoming tensions and addressing sensitive issues, highlighting the critical role of local and regional governments in building bridges for collaboration. The meeting also provided us with the opportunity to exchange views on building resilient local communities in our pursuit of combating climate change and achieving Sustainable Development Goals, which are fundamental competencies of local governments in both the EU and Turkey. We look forward to working with you again in the future. With respect. "

     Expressing his satisfaction with the thank-you letter, Mayor Palancıoğlu also mentioned that they take pride in hosting a meeting of the Council of Europe in Kayseri and are happy to have implemented this organization that supports the promotion of Kayseri.