From a quick look at the newspapers or the news on television, it would appear that Europe is in turmoil at the moment. Of course, the war in Ukraine continues to dominate the headlines, but elsewhere across Europe, the news can appear somewhat unsettling.
The recent rioting across France or the unfolding disaster in Italy with illegal migrants arriving in record numbers will make the ordinary traveller wonder if it is safe to undertake a European visit at this moment in time. It should be remembered, however, that only the bad news is reported, and all the good aspects of European travel never get a mention.
Of course, the possibility of the war in Ukraine continuing and expanding is something that must be considered, as are the risks of civil unrest or acts of terrorism in any country, but these are things the ordinary man in the street can do nothing about.
As a general rule, the whole of Europe, or at least those countries that are members of the European Union, is safe and stable. Recent statistics show that Europe is less dangerous than many cities in the United States and seven of the world’s safest countries are located in Europe which compares more than favourably with America’s 129th place ranking.
The Ukraine-Russia War
The number one concern for travellers (and particularly those from outside Europe) thinking of visiting Europe is the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Although Ukraine is not a member of the European Union (it has applied for membership), it is located at the eastern edge of the EU and shares borders with EU member states Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. While there is always a (very slight) risk of the war spreading into neighbouring countries, this is a highly unlikely development.
Despite the very limited risk of an expanded war in Eastern Europe, travellers remain concerned about the situation, and there has been a marked decrease in European holiday bookings from the United States. Before the Russian invasion, it was estimated that 33% of holidays booked by American tourists were to Europe, but this has now dropped to around 15%.
A recent survey of American travellers planning a visit to Europe showed 62% were concerned the war might spread to neighbouring countries, almost double the number of those who were worried about new Covid-19 outbreaks and restrictions.
What Americans and other travellers fail to take into account is the sheer size of Europe. Major tourist cities like Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Rome are hundreds of miles from the conflict and remain unaffected by the current situation.
Safe Flying in Europe
Another major concern for intending visitors is the safety aspect of flying into and across Europe. Firstly, most of the most popular European countries and cities are a great distance from Ukraine, and secondly, most European flights have been operating as normal since the start of the conflict.
Probably the closest major city to Ukraine is the Polish capital, Warsaw, and even this is 780 km (490 miles) from the Ukrainian border. It should also be noted that the last thing Russia’s leaders want or need is an international incident which would further alienate the country and possibly incur the wrath of NATO, Europe and the United States.
Airlines and travel companies, in general, are fully aware of the situation across Europe as it relates to travel and have measures in place should the situation in Ukraine escalate. At the slightest hint of danger, aircraft will be rerouted to avoid any airspace deemed to be even mildly unsafe. This may result in delays or cancellations, but such disruptions are most likely to affect countries bordering Ukraine, with some small knock-on effects in other European countries.
Some wary travellers still remember the downing of a Malaysia Airlines commercial aircraft in 2014 with the loss of all 298 passengers and crew. This air disaster was an exceptional event, and there are now much more stringent restrictions on commercial aircraft flying anywhere close to areas of conflict. These improved safety measures (and the distance from the actual war) mean that flying into and across Europe is as safe today as it always has been, if not actually a lot safer.
Problems in Europe
While the war in Ukraine may or may not impact scheduled flights to the region, the conflict has had an effect on the ground across Europe. Protests against Russia are commonplace, and these can sometimes get out of hand, leading to rioting in the streets. However, these protests are usually well-advertised in advance and well-policed. While travellers may inadvertently get caught up in protests, these can generally be avoided by paying attention to what is going on in the city before venturing out into a possible trouble spot. Avoiding possible scenes of conflict with the police is strongly advisable as there have been some reports of innocent tourists being mistaken for rioting protestors and arrested.
Another potential safety risk is getting involved in street conflicts caused by some citizens’ displeasure at their country’s receiving Ukrainian refugees. Since the Russian invasion, millions of ordinary Ukrainian citizens have fled the region and been afforded asylum in many European Union member states. These refugees are generally well received and welcomed but there is some backlash from various groups who are not quite so receptive to what they view as economic migrants rather than genuine asylum seekers. This can (and has) led to small protest groups battling security forces on the streets, although such incidents are rare.
Caution!
As a general rule, the whole of Europe is relatively safe for visitors, but this does not mean that one should let one’s guard down and walk around with blinkers on. No city or town on earth is completely safe and trouble-free, and it is always reasonable to assume that any country or city in Europe has places that should be avoided or that at least more caution should be observed if entering known areas of trouble.
A few places where caution is advised are:
- Estonia is rated the seventh worst country in Europe for homicides.
- Sweden has seen a huge increase in street crime over the last decade or so due to the country’s liberal policies around migration.
- Latvia has improved tremendously in recent years but was once considered one of the most dangerous European countries and dubbed Europe’s crime capital back in 2008.
- Cyprus, although generally a very safe place for visitors, is experiencing some difficulties with the large numbers of refugees and illegal migrants flowing into the country.
- France has long been a target for terrorist groups and has recorded one of the highest number of terrorist attacks in Europe.
- Lithuania is still regarded as a dangerous country due to the homicide rate (3rd highest in Europe) but is otherwise generally peaceful and safe.
- Armenia can be somewhat dangerous along the border with Azerbaijan particularly in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area following recent hostilities with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
- Serbia has seen a huge rise in organised crime and violence, although this is mainly gang-related and not directed towards tourists or visitors to the country.
- Georgia is home to numerous separatist groups and is generally regarded as unstable and unsafe for visitors.
- Kosovo has been plagued by organised crime games since gaining independence in 2008 and has one of the highest rates of homicides and violent crime in Europe.
- Belarus is both an unsafe and unpopular country among Europeans as it has staunchly shown support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Greece is extremely safe for visitors, but the country has been hugely impacted by terrorist attacks in recent years, with 35 committed in the year 2022 alone.
- Ukraine is, unsurprisingly, on the watch list for obvious reasons and should be avoided until the war with Russia has come to an end.
- Turkey is an extremely popular tourist destination, but visitors should be aware that many terrorist attacks have been committed in the country, with many European deaths and casualties recorded.
- Russia tops the list of unsafe countries to visit as the Russian mafia has taken control, and law and order leaves a lot to be desired with corruption rampant in the police and security forces.
While these countries have their problems it does not mean that a visit to any of them should not be considered. Any country can be relatively safe for a visitor (perhaps with the exception of Russia and Ukraine) as long as the traveller understands the current political and economic situation in the country being visited and exercises due care and attention.
Improved European Security
Travelling to and around Europe is a safe undertaking and will be even more so once the European Union has completed the implementation of ETIAS. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is a means of pre-screening intending visitors to Europe and refusing entry to those applicants who are deemed to pose a possible criminal or terrorist risk.
The ETIAS application process requires applicants to supply details of past criminal records or possible links to terrorist organisations, and the information supplied is thoroughly cross-checked with numerous European and world security and police databases. Any person considered a risk or undesirable will not be granted an ETIAS, without which it will be impossible to even embark on a European visit, let alone enter the European Union area, as only passport holders with ETIAS approval will be permitted to board a plane, boat, train or coach destined for Europe.