Like Crankin, I've never shipped a bike to Europe, but around the USA at least ten or fifteen times. Always in a hard case, always FedEx, never had a problem. There was once that the box arrived with the outer straps loose, but I've always suspected it was DH that forgot to tighten them as I'd asked, after he put a few things in to be shipped along with the box - and at any rate, the inner straps were tight and all the contents were fine. After that, I Sharpie'd on the outside of the box near the clasps, "If Opened Please Tighten All Straps." And the paper with the packing instructions stays in the box, as much to remind me as in case it's opened for inspection. I always use the little pieces of plastic that the name escapes me right now, that brace the drop-outs apart, and cushion as many of the tubes as possible with pipe insulation and/or foam rubber. And, I always ship express, which it's been my experience not only with bikes but with any shipments, that the shippers are much more careful with express shipments.

I personally would not trust a cardboard or fabric box, especially with a carbon frame, though I know a lot of people ship that way with no problem.