Eurotopics.net

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed plans to withdraw troops from Germany. The number of soldiers stationed there is to be reduced from around 34,500 to 25,000. Trump cited Germany's failure to comply with agreements regarding its contribution to Nato as a reason for the move. Commentators for the most part agree with his stance on the issue.

Sweden's highest environmental court on Monday gave the green light for Preem, the country's largest oil company, to expand its refinery in Lysekil in western Sweden. The Social Democrat-led government is expected to approve the project despite the concerns of its junior partner, the Green Party. Sweden's press is unhappy.

Demonstrators are also targeting monuments in the context of anti-racism protests in the US and Europe. In the US, statues of Christopher Columbus have been overturned and in the English city of Bristol the statue of a slave trader was thrown into the harbour. A debate about the removal of statues has also flared up among politicians. Commentators discuss the historical value of such monuments - and how they're viewed by the public.

Freedom of travel within the Schengen area has been largely restored since the start of this week; only a few countries still face restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. June 14 also marked the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Schengen Agreement. Journalists celebrate the return to freedom of travel and question the policy of closing and reopening borders.

The drop in environmental pollution during the lockdown is one of the positive side effects of the coronavirus crisis: airplanes were grounded, nitrogen oxide emissions decreased, and airlines have had to commit to ecological constraints in return for state aid. Commentators call for the insights gained from the crisis to be used to promote a lasting positive impact on climate protection.