Implications: These countries experienced a visa‑crisis because they were on the EU’s external border and feared that allowing Russian tourists would jeopardise public security. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania also stopped issuing most new visas to Russian citizens and banned entry with Schengen tourist visas. By repeatedly extending the bans into 2025, they signalled that the crisis continued.
Implications: Ukraine’s cultural heritage crisis stems from deliberate destruction during Russia’s invasion. Government reports highlight a systematic attack on religious and cultural sites and call on communities to submit evidence. These acts, often described as cultural terrorism, threaten the preservation of European heritage and have spurred appeals for international support and prosecution.
The EU’s Schengen Borders Code allows member states to temporarily re‑introduce border controls when serious threats to public policy or internal security arise. The European Commission’s Temporary Reintroduction of Border Control page lists current (2025) notifications by member states. The latest reintroductions reflect crises connected to irregular migration, terrorism, organised crime, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and hybrid threats. Countries include:
Trend: These notifications show that many Schengen countries reintroduced border controls in 2025 due to a combination of migration crises, terrorism/extremism, and sabotage or hybrid threats. The threats include potential eco‑terrorism (sabotage of energy infrastructure in Denmark and Norway). While the table lists 2025 measures, similar controls have been in place repeatedly since 2022, reflecting a sustained crisis.
European governments have also responded to environmental extremists (sometimes labelled “eco‑terrorists” or “eco‑vandals”) who attack cultural heritage. For instance, Italy proposed legislation in 2023‑2024 imposing heavy fines on activists who deface monuments, but official press releases are not readily accessible via government websites; thus this report relies on documented government actions where available (e.g., border controls aimed at sabotage). Norway and Denmark explicitly mention threats of sabotage against the energy sector and critical infrastructure in their notifications, highlighting concern about eco‑terrorism‑style attacks.
During 2022‑2025, several European countries faced overlapping crises:
Together, these government actions reveal a Europe grappling with intertwined crises: geopolitical conflict, migration and security pressures, eco‑terrorism and sabotage, and protection of cultural heritage. By tightening visas, closing borders and documenting cultural destruction, European governments aim to preserve security and heritage amid unprecedented challenges.
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