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BERLIN Senior German officials cast doubt Saturday on Turkeys chances of joining the European Union, amid growing tensions with Ankara over human rights and Turkeys claim that its being treated unfairly by countries in western Europe.

In an interview published by Hamburg weekly Der Spiegel, Germanys foreign minister suggested that for now the most that Turkey can hope for is to one day achieve a privileged partnership with the bloc.

Turkey is further away than ever before from EU membership, Sigmar Gabriel was quoted as saying.

Gabriel said he was always skeptical of the idea of Turkish EU membership. He told Der Spiegel that upcoming negotiations about the EUs future relationship with Britain might provide a blueprint for Turkey in the long term.

Thomas Oppermann, the parliamentary caucus leader of Gabriels Social Democrats, said Turkeys chances of joining the EU would be gone for good if the country reintroduced the death penalty, as Erdogan has suggested.

(Erdogans) announcement makes clear that he isnt interested in joining at all, said Oppermann. Erdogan is clearly on the wrong path and hes harming Turkish interests.

Relations between Berlin and Ankara have soured recently over a German Parliament resolution labeling the 20th century killing of Armenians as genocide, Turkeys crackdown on the opposition and civil society following a failed coup last summer, and appearances in Germany by Turkish officials campaigning for constitutional change in an upcoming referendum.

A German satirists poem poking fun at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the arrest of a German-Turkish journalist in Istanbul have further fanned tensions between the two countries.

Erdogans call Friday for Turks living in Europe to have at least five children, as a response to Europes injustices, has also angered German nationalists who responded by renewing calls for an end to dual citizenship.

Ankara, meanwhile, has accused Germany of allowing the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, to hold rallies in Germany. Kurds make up a sizable number of the over 3 million people of Turkish origin in Germany.

About 30,000 Kurds gathered in the central city of Frankfurt on Saturday to protest against the constitutional reforms sought by Erdogan, which would give the president greater power.

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Turkey won't be joining European Union any time soon - Press Herald

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is not worried about other EU countries leaving the bloc after Britain because Brexit will make them see it is not a good option, he said in a newspaper interview.

Asked by Bild am Sonntag newspaper if other member states would follow Britains example in quitting, Juncker said: No. Britains example will make everyone realise that its not worth leaving.

He added: On the contrary, the remaining member states will fall in love with each other again and renew their vows with the European Union.

The EUs 27 leaders plan to declare Europe is our common future during a meeting in Rome next week to mark 60 years of the bloc.

Juncker said Britain would need to get used to being treated as a non-member.

Half memberships and cherry-picking arent possible. In Europe you eat whats on the table or you dont sit at the table, he added.

Juncker said more countries would join the EU in future, although not during his time in office, which runs until 2019, because none of the candidates fulfils the conditions yet.

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'No other country will quit European Union after Britain' - Hindustan Times

Ireland will not be following the UK out of the European Union, Enda Kenny has insisted.

The Irish Taoiseach also said he was more confident about the EU's future in the wake of the centre ground victory in the Dutch election.

Mr Kenny told an event in New York that the "cornerstone" of much of Ireland's social progress in the last generation was due to the EU.

"To continue to succeed as an open economy and welcoming society, we must and we will remain at the very heart of Europe," he said.

In terms of Brexit, he said: "It is not a trigger for Ireland to follow suit and leave the European Union with the United Kingdom - we will not do so."

Asked if he was more confident about the EU after the Dutch result, he said: "I am.

"At the (European Council) meeting in Valletta in Malta, which holds the presidency at the moment, there was a genuinely renewed focus from leaders to say 'well we better deal with this politically and begin to listen to people and begin to act in the interest of people and not have a situation where either the European Union or the government involved are removed from the people'.

"I think there is a mood at the European Council level to focus really to having outcomes to political decisions that will impact on our people."

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Ireland will not follow UK out of European Union - Enda Kenny - Belfast Telegraph

Post-Brexit body blow

BRUSSELS: The EU is set to re-commit itself to "our common future" at a summit marking its 60th anniversary, defying Brexit and growing euroscepticism, according to a draft declaration.

They also vow to work for "even greater unity" while allowing "different paces and intensity" of cooperation -- a notion which could fuel tensions among member states.

"We are determined to make the EU stronger and more resilient, through even greater unity and solidarity amongst us," says the draft document by 27 member states and EU institutions, dated March 16.

The declaration is likely to be subject to negotiation by EU nations ahead of a summit on March 25 summit, marking the 60th anniversary of the blocs founding Treaty of Rome.

The Rome anniversary summit comes at a critical juncture for the European Union, with Britain about to trigger divorce talks while other eurosceptic movements vie for power.

The one-and-a-half page text, a copy of which was obtained by AFP on Saturday, vows: "Unity is both a necessity and our free choice."

Taken individually, we would be sidelined by global dynamics. Standing together is our best chance to influence them, and to defend our common interests and values."

But it continues: "We will act together whenever possible, at different paces and intensity where necessary, as we have done in the past within the treaty framework and leaving the door open to those who want to join later."

The wording evokes the notion of a two-speed or multi-speed Europe, backed by EU heavyweights France and Germany in response to Brexit.

But it is resisted by newer central and eastern European EU members, led by Poland, who fear being left behind.

The draft document, written in English, the blocs main working language even though Britain is about to leave, may well be subject to change before the Rome summit.

But some parts are more likely to remain as they are.

"Our Union is undivided and indivisible," says the statement, whose final phrase is the same as the declaration which marked the 50th anniversary of the Rome.

"We have united for the better. Europe is our common future," it says.

Adopted by 27 countries a decade ago, that document aimed at relaunching the EU after the crisis triggered by French and Dutch voters rejection of an EU constitution.

The Rome summit will be clouded by Brexit, but also by upcoming elections in France and Germany where populist forces are vying for power, despite far-righter Geert Wilders failure to make a breakthrough in Dutch polls last week.

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European Union to vow 'common future' - The News International

Four months after the violence in Kasese district, which culminated in the incidents of 26-27 November 2016, the European Union regrets that the Ugandan authorities have not yet launched a comprehensive independent investigation.

The European Union firmly deplores the attacks perpetrated over the past years against state representatives including police. At the same time, the EU notes with concern the Human Rights Watch report Uganda: Ensure Independent Investigation into Kasese Killings released on 15 March, raising serious questions about disproportional use of force by the security forces, leading to more than 100 civilian casualties, including children.

The European Union notes the Governments statement that Uganda has no lack of independent investigative capacity. We therefore call on the competent authorities to immediately conduct the necessary field investigation, ensuring strong witness protection and protection of evidence. We stand ready to support such efforts.

We also note that the Government considers the ongoing Court case against the Omusinga to be the appropriate process for delivering justice. For justice to be impartial and complete, the conduct of the security forces during the raid on the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu palace should also be subject to scrutiny, with their full cooperation.

The European Union believes a failure to fully investigate this tragedy will perpetuate.insecurity, undermine the rule of law and deny the families their right to know the truth. As a strong partner to Uganda, we believe justice for victims on all sides is a prerequisite for peace and development.

The EU and its Member States present in Uganda: European Union Delegation Austria Belgium Denmark France Germany Ireland Italy Netherlands Sweden United Kingdom

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The situation in Kasese District: Statement by the European Union - EU News