Eurotopics.net

After causing a lot of damage recently in relations with the West, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tried his hand at bridge-building at the Nato summit. US President Joe Biden describe his meeting with Erdoğan as positive and productive - just weeks after calling the Turkish leader an "autocrat" and recognising the Armenian genocide. Commentators are sceptical.

Estonia's government wants to pay the country's state-owned energy company Eesti Energia 10 million euros in subsidies over two years to burn wood in old power plants. The goal is to keep energy costs low in the structurally weak north-east region. Estonia has an abundance of forests, but since Tallinn gave permission for the clear-cutting of trees even in nature reserves in 2015, its forested areas have shrunken. The national press is nonplussed.

Covid infection numbers are currently falling steadily in almost all European countries. After the relaxing of restrictions in shops and restaurants and partial relaxations in cultural venues, has the time come to gradually lift the requirement to wear a mask? Commentators are at odds.

At their meeting on Monday, the Nato states for the first time adopted a clear position on China, which is described in the final declaration as presenting systemic challenges. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed however that this did not mean China is seen as an opponent or an enemy. Journalists take a closer look at the China policies discussed at the recent G7 and Nato meetings.