1. Objectives

1. To carry out joint projects
2. To identify areas of project cooperation, establish project consortia, join existing consortia, and prepare for current project applications
3. To exchange information (know-how transfer) and share experiences
4. To contribute to the promotion and economic development of the city
5. To cooperate in order to improve the quality of municipal administration and service delivery
6. To benefit from different perspectives on common issues such as sustainable development, climate change, sustainable energy, and social development
7. To develop cooperation in cultural, social, and sports fields
8. To conduct reciprocal technical visits

2. Legal Regulations

2.1. Article 74 of the Municipalities Law No. 5393

“Foreign Relations
Article 74 - The municipality may become a founding member or a member of international organizations and institutions operating in areas related to its duties, subject to the decision of the municipal council. The municipality may carry out joint activities and service projects with these organizations and foreign local administrations, or establish sister city relationships. The activities to be carried out pursuant to the first and second paragraphs must be conducted in accordance with foreign policy and international agreements, and prior permission from the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization must be obtained.”

2.2. Subparagraph (p) of the first paragraph of Article 18 of the Municipal Law No. 5393, which regulates the duties of the Municipal Council.

“Duties and Powers of the Assembly
Article 18- The duties and powers of the municipal assembly are as follows:
…
p) To cooperate with municipalities and local government unions within the country and, with the permission of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, abroad; to establish sister city relationships; to carry out activities and projects in fields such as culture, art and sports in order to develop economic and social relations; and to decide on the construction, commissioning, leasing or allocation of land, buildings and similar facilities within this framework.”

2.3. Article 1 of Law No. 1173 on the Conduct and Coordination of International Relations

“…The contacts of ministries, departments and organizations with general and supplementary budgets, local administrations, public economic enterprises, banks established by special law, professional organizations with the status of public institutions, and associations working for the public benefit whose special income sources and special facilities are provided by law, with foreign embassies, consulates, honorary consulates and other missions, and with the representations and missions of international bodies and their affiliated advisory, attaché, bureau and other authorities, shall be conducted in accordance with the rules and procedures of international law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be informed of these contacts. Members of the ministries, departments, organizations, administrations, enterprises, banks and associations mentioned in the above paragraph who will go outside Turkey for official duties without having the authority to represent the Republic of Turkey, or to conclude contracts other than those mentioned in the first paragraph on behalf of the Turkish State, shall contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before leaving Turkey; their duties abroad During this period, they maintain contact with the nearest Turkish diplomatic mission or consular delegation; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is informed about the course and outcome of such foreign contacts…”

2.4. Relevant circular of the Ministry of Interior (Circular No. 2005/36 dated 07.04.2005)

““… Foreign Relations
Municipalities, subject to the decision of the municipal council, will obtain prior permission from our Ministry to become a founding member or member of international organizations and institutions operating in their field of duty, or to carry out joint activities and service projects with foreign local administrations, or to establish sister city relationships, and will apply with the following information and documents: a) In the case of establishing a sister city relationship with a municipality abroad, the decision of the relevant municipal council, information about the city with which the sister city relationship will be established and what benefits are expected from the sister city relationship, and if sister city protocols are to be signed when establishing the sister city relationship, the text of the relevant protocols. b) If membership in international organizations is to be obtained, the decision of the relevant municipal council, the full text of the main statute of the international organization to be joined and its certified Turkish translation, the benefits expected from membership, the amount of any participation fee or dues to be paid, and the latest final account statement of the municipality. c) In the case of conducting educational and cultural activities and organizing festivals together with international organizations, information about the international organization and the decision of the relevant municipal council. Mayors and Delegations representing the municipality will conduct their activities abroad in accordance with the state's foreign policy and international agreements. Furthermore, the relevant governorship will be informed in advance about the purpose, duration, and program of the trip to the Ministry. Sister city relationships between municipalities within the country can be established through mutual council decisions of the respective municipalities.. …”

Accordingly, the following documents are required:

• Municipal Council Decision
• Information about the city with which a sister city relationship will be established
• Expected benefits of the sister city relationship
• Text of the "Sister City Protocol" (if applicable),

The application is submitted to the General Directorate of Local Governments of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, along with an official letter requesting permission to establish a sister city relationship. The sister city protocol is signed after the Ministry's approval letter.

3. Sister City Process

1. Formal request letter and declaration of intent to be sent by the party with whom a sister city relationship will be established
2. Writing and sending the reply letter confirming the declaration of intent
3. Writing and sending the reply letter confirming the declaration of intent
4. Taking the Municipal Council Decision to establish the sister city relationship
5. Submitting the "Municipal Council Decision" and the "Draft Sister City Protocol" to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and requesting permission.
6. If the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change deems the request appropriate, it is submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their opinion. If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also gives its positive opinion, the suitability letter is sent to the applicant institution.
7. Signing and implementing the Sister City Protocol.

This process is followed in sister city relationships abroad. In domestic sister city relationships, after "Municipal Council Resolutions" are adopted, a "Sister City Protocol" is signed, and a copy of both the Municipal Council Resolutions and the signed Sister City Protocol is submitted to the Ministry (Local Governments Branch Directorate of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change).