Highlights

Europe’s bathing waters continue to improve

Arthur Girling — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:52:04 +0200

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

Arthur Girling — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:00:00 +0100

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

Arthur Girling — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:00:00 +0100

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

Arthur Girling — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0200

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

Arthur Girling — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:25:00 +0200

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

Gülcin KARADENIZ — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:00:00 +0200

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

Gülcin KARADENIZ — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:50:00 +0200

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

Gülcin KARADENIZ — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:20:00 +0100

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

Gülcin KARADENIZ — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0100

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

Gülcin KARADENIZ — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

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

Gülcin KARADENIZ — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:00:00 +0200

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

Gülcin KARADENIZ — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0200

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?

Gülcin KARADENIZ — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:00:00 +0200

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

Gülcin KARADENIZ — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:00:00 +0200

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

Mark Grundy — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:30:00 +0200

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.