EU-lidstaten sluiten stranden om "vuil water"-boetes uit Brussel te voorkomen (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU member states last year prohibited swimming at several of their bathing sites - in order not to be held accountable by the EU for poor bathing water quality.

In its yearly report on the quality of bathing water in the EU, the European Commission today (1 June) heavily criticized several EU countries for continuously closing down bathing waters to the public - instead of trying to comply with EU water quality standards.

Bathing waters at the coasts and lakes of the EU have to be clean, according to the rules laid down in the EU's Bathing Water Directive dating from 1976.

Member states risk court action by the Commission if water quality at their bathing sites is insufficient - but they can circumvent this by simply taking polluted beaches and lakes off their bathing waters lists.

"Several member states continue delisting and banning bathing waters that previously experienced difficulties in reaching the minimum quality standards", the Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström says in the report.

"This is not the way to address pollution problems!", Ms Wallström writes, adding: "Instead, investments in better water quality should be made and clean bathing waters should be opened to the public".

Spain and Italy: biggest offenders

Spain and Italy are singled out by the Commission as the biggest offenders in this respect.

The report states: "The Commission regrets that Spain de-commissioned once more 5% of its fresh water bathing sites. Since 1994, Spain has lost 65% of all fresh water sites in this way".

On Italy, the Commission's overview continues: "In 2003 more than 27% of all Italian fresh waters had a bathing ban, against 14,8% in 2002. The Commission is puzzled by this trend and will seek clarification from Italy".

But also in northern Europe countries are criticized. According to the Commission, Finland de-listed 12% of its coastal bathing areas and 4% of all fresh water zones in 2003.

Germany also has a growing number of beaches where bathing is banned.

On the contrary, Portugal and Greece actually added bathing sites to their lists, while at the same time complying very well with the EU Directive.