The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has awarded the 2025 Europe Prize to Türkiye’s southeastern province of Gaziantep for its exemplary efforts in promoting the European ideal.
The prestigious prize, the highest distinction given by PACE to a European city for its actions in the European domain, is presented annually to the city with the strongest dedication to advancing European principles. The award acknowledges Gaziantep’s focus on sustainability, urban development, smart-city applications, environmental conservation and the well-being of its inhabitants.
In a statement, PACE said Gaziantep has 25 sister cities, including Germany’s Duisburg and Ludwigshafen, Slovenia’s Celje, Czech Republic’s Ostrava and Portugal’s Braga. Noting the city is a key economic hub known for its industrial sector, particularly in textiles and manufacturing, PACE highlighted Gaziantep is the first city in Türkiye to implement an action plan against climate change.
In addition to its dynamic engagement with European countries and financial competence, Gaziantep was also commended for its active organisation and participation in international events and humanitarian efforts. “Gaziantep is renowned for its international events, in particular the annual International Gastronomy Festival. It actively participates in European Mobility Week and celebrates Europe Day. The city has been awarded the European Label of Excellence in Governance (ELoGE). Gaziantep has also shown remarkable solidarity and humanitarian efforts, particularly in response to the Syrian refugee crisis and the February 2023 earthquakes,” the PACE statement said. It also added that the Turkish city is “a member of 28 international networks, including Eurocities, Energy Cities, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye.”
Located in southeastern Anatolia, Gaziantep has 1.2 million inhabitants. The archaic city, located along the historical Silk Road and at the junction of Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean, has been a cradle of civilisations for centuries and has embraced different cultures and lifestyles for generations. With its rich culture, heritage, history, and gastronomy, Gaziantep is a truly breathtaking travel destination.
Five other cities, including Augsburg and Münster in Germany, Birštonas in Lithuania, Płońsk in Poland and Vinnytsia in Ukraine, were shortlisted for the prize. Leaving its fellow contenders behind, Gaziantep stood out with its progressive policies and strong international ties.