Eurotopics.net

Nato began its mission in Afghanistan 20 years ago. Today, most experts consider the strategy of building a democratic state on the basis of military support to have failed. More than 3,500 troops belonging to Nato and its allies lost their lives in Afghanistan. While some commentators point to lessons to be learned from the fiasco, others say the self-criticism has gone too far.

Two weeks ago the SPD caught up with the CDU/CSU and they were neck and neck in the polls for the first time since 2017. With less than four weeks to go before Germany's parliamentary elections, the downward trend for the CDU/CSU is continuing. While the SPD under chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz is polling at up to 25 percent, the CDU/CSU is trailing behind at around 21 percent, with the Greens at roughly 18 percent. Europe's press speculates on the consequences of an SPD election victory.

In many European countries the new school year begins today, September 1. After a year and a half of school closures, homeschooling, compulsory Covid tests and face masks, many were hoping for a return to normality. But the Delta variant is driving up infection rates, especially among children, many of whom have not been vaccinated. Today's commentaries present a mixture of fatalism, disgruntlement and perplexity.