Eurotopics.net

The Nato accession applications of Sweden and Finland have also reignited the debate about neutrality in non-aligned Switzerland and Austria. Seventy-five percent of Austrians still reject Nato membership, according to a survey put out by Austria's Institute for Public Opinion and Data Analysis. Commentators see the need for more debate.

The Dutch government has announced plans to ban fossil-fuel heating systems from 2026 and subsidise the use of heat pumps. The move also comes against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and Europe's efforts to end its dependence on fossil energy from Russia. The national press doubts the transition can be implemented so swiftly.

On the one hand the victory at the Azov steel plant can be seen as a partial success for the Russian army. At the same time there are growing signs that Russia is failing to achieve its war objectives, suffering considerable losses and being pushed back in some areas. Western intelligence services also report that Putin is increasingly interfering in day-to-day military operations. Europe's press speculates about the political pressure on Russia's domestic front.

Turkey is blocking Finland and Sweden's bid to join Nato saying it cannot agree to the admission of countries that tolerate terrorist organisations like the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and have imposed sanctions against Turkey. Sweden has refused to supply Turkey with weapons since 2019 because of its military operations in Syria. Europe's press seeks solutions.