BERLIN, Jumada II 19, 1438, Mar 18, 2017, SPA -- Turkey has never been less likely to join the European Union than now and the bloc should seek a special relationship with Britain, Reuters cited German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel as saying, as relations between Ankara and Berlin hit a low point. "Today Turkey is definitely further away from becoming a member of the European Union than ever before," Gabriel said in an interview with news magazine Der Spiegel published on Saturday. He said he always had doubts about whether Turkey should join the EU but found himself in the minority in his Social Democrat (SPD) party. Before taking power in Germany in 2005, Chancellor Angela Merkel was an outspoken opponent of Turkey's membership and called for a "privileged partnership". Gabriel once thought that would make Turks feel like second-class Europeans but said his opinion had changed since Britain's decision to leave the EU. "Today the situation is totally different due to Brexit. We'd be well advised to bring about a 'special relationship' with Great Britain after its exit from the EU," Gabriel said. "That will be an important learning process for the EU and perhaps some of it can serve as a blueprint for other countries in the long term," Gabriel said. -- SPA 20:58 LOCAL TIME 17:58 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w356380