Do you think the authorities no longer want the clubs in Europe?
There's no blanket answer to that question, given how many different actors are involved.
Overall in Germany, I'd say that prostitution is unduly treated as an afterthought, with no willingness to differentiate the very different forms it takes (some of which could have
easily reopened long ago).
It's important to note that within Germany, it's the individual state governments who are primarily responsible for the rules. Baden-Württemberg tends to be strict about prostitution, NRW seems kind of apathetic, Thuringia tends to be open, and RLP tried to be the first to allow all sexwork again - but then did a 180 which really fucked the whole sector over. After that, there is now this implicit agreement that no single German state should reopen prostitution unless they all do - which, if everyone sticks with it, effectively means it's the strict states who set the pace.
On the federal level, it doesn't seem like anyone likes to touch the issue with a long stick - at least not if they are in favour. There are some anti-prostitution types who are hearing opportunity knock to advance their cause now, see those 16 federal MPs who called for prostitution to never reopen even post-Corona (which is, of course, not that simple, as it would require specific legislation, which would amount to Berufsverbot).
Outside of Germany, stances are as different as national legislation is. Looking at how Sixsens can operate now, I would say that the Netherlands are giving clubs (well, I'm using the plural, but are there even any left in NL besides Sixsens?) actually a lot of leeway. Other countries have allowed clubs to reopen too (like Austria and Switzerland, also Belgium, and others), with varying forms of Corona-preventing measures.
I'm not seeing any real tendencies to oust clubs from Europe overall. But it is annoying that Germany, being the biggest market, is so adamant about not allowing
anything of it so far. On the other hand, I think the authorities - especially the local ones which ultimately actually have to deal with overseeing sexwork - are noticing that continued prohibition only leads to large swathes of the sector going underground, which cannot be in their interest.
Lastly, looking at the EU level, nothing much is happening there that directly pertains to pay-sex during Corona. However, EU legislation is very much a thing, and it is there that - in my opinion - the biggest dangers for legal prostitution stems from, EU-wide. Anti-prostitution lobbying is stronger on the European level than it is on the national level. Here's hoping that convincing counter-voices against the "Nordic model", for instance from Amnesty International who explicitly oppose it, will continue to stem this tide. Maybe even a shift towards more positive change is possible in the future, rather than merely defending the status quo - if I may get a little optimistic at this late hour.
