Highlights

Change language

This website has limited functionality with javascript off. Please make sure javascript is enabled in your browser.

Europe’s bathing waters continue to improve — May 21, 2013: Ninety-four per cent of bathing sites in the European Union meet minimum standards for water quality, according to the European Environment Agency's annual report on bathing water quality in Europe. Water quality is excellent at 78 % of sites and almost 2 % more sites meet the minimum requirements compared to last year's report.
Water management in Europe faces rising challenges as ecosystems weaken — Nov 26, 2012: Water pollution and excessive water use are still harming ecosystems, which are indispensable to Europe’s food, energy, and water supplies. To maintain water ecosystems, farming, planning, energy and transport sectors need to actively engage in managing water within sustainable limits.
Climate change evident across Europe, confirming urgent need for adaptation — Nov 21, 2012: Climate change is affecting all regions in Europe, causing a wide range of impacts on society and the environment. Further impacts are expected in the future, potentially causing high damage costs, according to the latest assessment published by the European Environment Agency today.
Protected areas have increased to cover one fifth of Europe’s land — Oct 23, 2012: More than 21 % of the land has some kind of protected status in the 39 countries which work with the European Environment Agency (EEA). However, only 4 % of the sea controlled by countries of the European Union is included within the Natura 2000 network of protected areas, according to a new report from the EEA.
Bathing water quality remains high around the EU — Jun 16, 2011: The quality of bathing water across Europe declined slightly between 2009 and 2010, but the overall quality was still high. More than nine out of 10 bathing water sites now meet the minimum requirements.
Europe's coasts: reconciling development and conservation — Aug 25, 2010: Europe’s coastal zones are under increasing pressure from erosion, pollution, climate change, urbanisation and tourism. Such pressures threaten entire ecosystems — vital not only for wildlife but also for the economy and human well-being. The European Environment Agency (EEA) takes a closer look at the state of coastal ecosystems and policy responses to the pressures affecting them.
EU bathing water quality remains high — Jun 10, 2010: Clean bathing waters are vital for key economic sectors such as tourism and for plant and animal life. The annual bathing water report presented by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency shows that 96 % of coastal bathing areas and 90 % of bathing sites in rivers and lakes complied with minimum standards in 2009. It also describes where to obtain detailed and up-to-date information on bathing sites.
Everything about fresh water in Europe — Mar 22, 2010: Clean fresh water is essential to life. Unfortunately, almost all human activities affect water quality. On World Water Day, 22 March, the European Environment Agency (EEA) is enriching the information on the web-based Water Information System for Europe (WISE) with two new sets of data on urban waste water and pollutant releases.
Marine biodiversity: life in seas under threat — Mar 17, 2010: Climate change, pollution, acidification, over-exploitation of fish stocks, invasive alien species all threaten life in our seas and consequently the services we obtain from them. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) new short assessment of marine biodiversity takes a closer look at the ‘less known half’ of EU territory.
EEA set to improve data flows for GMES — Feb 12, 2010: The European Environment Agency (EEA) has started coordinating data flows from ground, sea and air observations, which will be used for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) services. Building on existing mechanisms and capacities, EEA will develop an innovative and sustainable framework to make the data accessible.
Everything about your favourite beach is now at your fingertips — Jun 18, 2009: How is the water quality at your favourite bathing spot? What do other beachgoers think? What does the beach look like? The European Environment Agency (EEA) and Microsoft environmental information portal 'Eye on Earth' shows not only the latest information on water quality but also user ratings and comments, pictures and live webcam streaming.
Bathing water quality improving in the EU — Jun 11, 2009: The annual bathing water report presented by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency reveals that the large majority of bathing sites across the European Union met EU hygiene standards in 2008. During that bathing season some 96 % of coastal bathing areas and 92 % of bathing sites in rivers and lakes complied with minimum standards. The report provides useful water quality information for the millions of people who visit Europe's beaches every summer.
Heading for your favourite beach? Is the bathing water clean? — Jul 30, 2008: The European Environment Agency (EEA) and Microsoft today launched a new environmental information portal ‘Eye on Earth’, displaying the latest information on the water quality in bathing sites across Europe. Through its first application ‘Water Watch’, the new portal allows users to rate beaches and to share their comments with others.
Check last year's water quality in your favourite bathing spot — Jun 02, 2008: The 'Water Information System for Europe' (WISE) now allows users to view the quality of the bathing water in more than 21 000 coastal beaches and freshwater bathing sites across Europe during the 2007 bathing season. WISE also includes new information on urban wastewater treatment and water quality in European lakes and rivers.
European Topic Centre for Land Use and Spatial Information opens in Barcelona — Jun 07, 2007: The new European Topic Centre for Land Use and Spatial Information (ETC/LUSI) was inaugurated today at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. The European Environment Agency's Executive Director, Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, joined the Spanish Minister of the Environment, Cristina Narbona, and dignitaries from both Catalonia and Andalucia for the event. ETC/LUSI is an international consortium assisting the European Environment Agency in its mission to deliver information on the state and trends of the European environment to policy-makers and the general public. The consortium will also work with Spanish authorities and organisations, helping to reflect pan-European developments at regional and national level.
Europe's coastline approaches environmental 'point of no return' — Jul 03, 2006: Europe's unique coastal environment is under increasing threat from its own popularity, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA), released today in Copenhagen.