VISION
The citizens of Istanbul want to see their city represented in the heart of Europe. The ICiB believes that Istanbul is not just part of Europe but pro-European, and that the contemporary city possesses a vitality that is an indivisible part of contemporary European culture.
The ICiB reflects a growing awareness that Turkey must take its place in Europe not just through political negotiation but also through civil society initiatives and cultural dialogue. It will demonstrate, through practical engagement, that European integration is already taking place at a local level.
Istanbul has a young population. New generations are celebrating the city’s social diversity and exploring their own multi-cultural identity from within a common European idiom. The ICiB will carry this dialogue to Brussels.