What are these European student debts you speak of, outside of the UK (which emphatically does not want to be considered part of Europe)?

In Germany the government pays your university time. You get about 800€ per month for housing and basic needs. At least if your family is not too well off.

50% of this have to be paid back, free of interest and capped at 10k€. That is not much, but keep in mind that we earn much less than Americans and have much higher taxes.