Prof. Dr. Recep Akdağ, Minister of Health, Received Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner of European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations at his office on July 6, 2017 .
At the meeting, first of all Mr. Minister expressed his discomfort with the advisory decision of the European Parliament about the suspension of negotiations with Turkey and emphasized that this decision is not legally binding for Turkey.
Mr. Minister mentioned that EU needs Turkey more than Turkey needs EU and noted that both parties should improve the cooperations in the next periods.
After speaking about the issues with Syrian refugees, Mr. Minister mentioned that he considers them as one of us and since 2011 232.000 mothers has given birth, this rate is more than annual birth rate of many EU states. Expressing that Turkey has delivered these services as humanitarian aid since the beginning of the crisis, Mr. Minister stated that they expects EU meets their commitments for this issue, Turkey will continue to deliver these services even though there is no help and as government opened 86 migrant health centers without EU's help.
Mr. Minister mentioned that EU authorities sometimes voice criticism about Turkey, however there is no country which is more democratic than Turkey in this region.
Last but not least, Mr. Minister also expressed that Turkey did not receive expected help from European friends during the coup attempt on June 15. Mentioning that the destiny of Turkey and Europe is shaped together, Mr. Minister said "therefore, we absolutely need to meet on common ground.
European Commissioner of European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiation Johannes Hahn mentioned that they finds the support of Turkish Government and especially Ministry of Health to refugees praiseworthy and continue to cooperate with Turkey on this issue. He stated that they accelerate the process for financial resource allocation in this field and migrant health centers will be established as part of this project initiated via this cooperation. Hahn who mentioned that they desired Syrian health personnel to work in these centers, also added that these services should be promoted and announced. Hahn stated that they are in the same boat about the democracy and member states on an individual basis condemned the coup attempt although it is not done as EU.