Let's explain a little thing, EU price includes VAT, that in most states for not strictly vital commodities is almost everywhere 20% here, while normally US price is sales tax excluded (if even applies, doesn't happen in all states, IIRC), but anyway EU prices with 1€=$1 are always overpriced if the exchange rate is more than $1.2 for 1€.
When people were less aware, some resellers tried to justify more than VAT EU overprice with duty, but amongst developed countries members of WTO duties on most goods, electronics included, are harmonized, so on a console produced both outside USA and EU European and Americans pay the same duty.

We'll see in late January whether this is permanent or not. But if it was, wouldn't Sony announce it?

Unless they don't want people to know, because it would lose them money...

Wait, how does that make ANY sense?

My mind just exploded.

Maybe the explanation is simpler: given the current crisis, almost everywhere clearance sales have been pushed forward, so Sony had to give the green light to discounts.