Across Europe, countries are shifting from volunteer soldiers to conscript armies — with Austria now also weighing up whether to extend its mandatory military service.
Some look with envy at countries such as Sweden, where sex education was introduced in the 1940s and made compulsory in 1955. Even in kindergartens, the topic is at least touched upon.
Faced with ageing demographics, Europe is debating whether to raise the age of pension eligibility or to encourage “active” retirement. The goal is to balance social rights with the viability of pension systems.
Despite massive rearmament and evacuation plans, a major vulnerability remains — the Suwałki Gap, sometimes dubbed ‘Nato’s Achilles’ heel’, a narrow strip of land connecting the Baltic states with Poland. To the west lies the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, to the east, Moscow-loyal Belarus. If Putin were to strike here, it would be relatively easy for him to cut the Baltic states off from their allies.