Located on the Aegean Sea, İzmir is the second largest port in Turkey after Istanbul and the third largest city in Turkey, with four million inhabitants. The city is twinned with 24 cities around the world. It pays significant attention to co-operation in political, economic, social and cultural fields with municipalities abroad and has received numerous foreign delegations.

Europe Day is celebrated every year with many events such as information meetings and discussions on European opportunities in some municipalities, associations and universities, and Eurodesk information stands in universities.

İzmir is a city of solidarity that helps victims of natural disasters and people in need. It strives to integrate migrants into the İzmir way of life.

It also plays an active role in international organisations such as EUROCITIES, the Network of Mediterranean Cities (MedCities), United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the WHO European Healthy Cities Network, to name but a few.