By EUobserver

Turkey's ambassador to the EU, Selim Yenel, has told German newspaper Die Welt that Turkey is aiming to join the EU in 2023, the 100-year anniversary of the creation of the Turkish republic. "It would be an achievement for my country to become a member at that time", he said. Ankara's post-coup crackdown and its talk of reinstating the death penalty have raised fresh doubts on future EU relations.