They were announced by Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPPF)National Operator of the International Program “Blue flag” in our country, the coast, marina and tourist boat awards. With 617 award-winning beaches, Greece once again holds the 2nd place worldwide among 52 countries.

It is worth noting that, for the first time, the awards exceed 600, and that of the total of 52 countries participating in the Program, Greece owns 15% of the award-winning coastlines. First in Greece, the prefecture of Halkidiki, with 94 flags. The International Committee awarded 4,212 beaches, 710 marinas and 120 tourist boats around the world.

See HERE the entire list of beaches that won the Blue Flag

The annual announcement of our country’s Blue Flag awarded beaches, marinas and tourist boats took place today in Georgioupoli Apokoronou Chania, on the coast of the Pilot Beach Resort hotel, in two phases. In the morning, an educational event took place on the award-winning beach, with the participation of more than a hundred children and teachers from local schools. The children participated in interactive workshops and watched a lifesaving demonstration by Theodorakatos Lifesaving School and Sia EE.

At noon, the second phase of the event followed, in the same place and included the announcement of the award-winning beaches, marinas and tourist boats, in the presence of many representatives of the local government and Tourism bodies.

The event was opened by the President of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) Mr. Nikos Petrou, the Mayor of Apokoronou, Mr. Charalambos Koukianakis and the General Manager of the Pilot Beach Resort hotel, Mr. George Papadopoulos.

They sent greetings:

Archimandrite Nikiforos Eikosidekas, Primate of the Holy Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronou,
the Harbor Master of Rethymnon of the 7th Regional Command of the Coast Guard of Crete, Mr. Konstantinos Kastrinakis,
the Mayor of Hersonissos, Mr. Yiannis Segos representing the KEDE (Central Union of Municipalities of Greece
and the President of the Regional Department of the Hellenic Red Cross EES Chania, Mr. Stelios Kalaitzakis.

The Blue Flag Program

The “Blue Flag” is the most recognizable and internationally widespread ecological symbol of quality in the world. It has been awarded since 1987, to beaches and marinas that meet the strict award conditions. A necessary condition for awarding a coast with the “Blue Flag” is that its water quality is “Excellent”. No other quality rating, even “Good”, is accepted by the Program. The award lasts for one year.

In addition, the rest of the total 33 criteria for the coasts (38 for marinas and 51 for boats) must also be observed, which concern cleanliness, organization, information, safety of bathers and visitors, protection of the natural wealth of the coast and coastline space and environmental awareness. The major foreign travel agencies pay special attention to the “Blue Flag” when they choose the destinations they recommend to their clients, as a guarantee of the high quality services offered on the coast, but also of the protection of the environment and public health. This is known and evaluated by all beach managers, Municipalities, Hotels and Camping, who participate in the Program voluntarily.

In 2017, the implementation of the Program for tourist boats in our country began. The Program concerns companies that manage tourist boats and are awarded for their sustainable management, when they comply with 51 criteria in general categories, but also with additional criteria in special categories, such as diving boats.

The Founder and International Coordinator of the Program is the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Denmark, with members in 80 countries from all continents. It is represented in Greece by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF), the country’s oldest environmental organization of national scope which completed in 2021, 70 years of uninterrupted action in environmental interventions, in nature protection programs, in environmental education with 3 International networks approved by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, and in general information and public awareness. (www.eepf.gr)

Program implementation process

The EEPP sends the coastal and marina managers, old and new applicants, the applications that must be returned by a regular deadline.

After their control, the applications are forwarded to the VET. The policy of the EEPF is the effective representation of the bodies involved in the management of the coasts and marinas, so the EEK is attended by representatives of: Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Tourism, EOT, Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, Ministry of Health, Directorate A’ /of Primary Education of Eastern Attica, Hellenic Red Cross (representative of the International Lifesaving Academy in Greece), Central Association of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), Archela NGO, volunteer evaluators of coasts and marinas.

The EEK examines the applications and prepares a report with which it transmits its proposal, with the data of the coasts and marinas it considers worthy of an award, to the International Crisis Committee (IEC), based in Denmark, which alone decides on the awards in Worldwide.
The EC is attended by representatives of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the International Lifeguard Federation (ILSE), the Environment Committee of the European Parliament, the European Union for Coastal Protection (EUCC) and the FEE Board of Directors.

The International Crisis Committee in turn examines the reports and proposals forwarded to it by the national operators and makes the final decision on the awards.

Coasts that have been awarded for their participation the previous year start preparing their coast at the beginning of June. Managers have the right, after preparing their coast, to receive and display the Blue Flag by July 1st. However, they cannot post it if they do not have the results of microbiological analyzes of the waters for their coast.

Assessors from the National Operator, as well as the International Coordinator, visit, often unannounced, the country’s award-winning coasts between July and August and marinas throughout the year and check whether the Program’s criteria are met.

Problems or omissions found during the inspection are brought to the attention of the administrator so that they can be addressed. In case of a significant problem, the National Operator is required to withdraw the Blue Flag for a period of 3 to 15 days, and until it is dealt with, with mandatory corresponding information about the event on the Notice Board. In case of serious omission, the Blue Flag is permanently withdrawn by order of the National Operator and the coast is removed from the tables of awarded coasts. Shore visitors who find problems are often reported to the National Operator, but also directly to the International Coordinator.

Control of the quality of Swimming Water

The quality of bathing water is monitored every year by the Water Departments of the Decentralized Administrations and the General Secretariat of Natural Environment and Water of the Ministry of the Environment, through control sampling carried out by laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation System (ESYD).

The Ministry of the Interior created the “Swimming Beaches Identity Register”, which is an obligation of our country based on the EU legislation, systematically monitoring the beaches that gather a significant number of bathers, show ecological, mainly, but also aesthetic interest or are subject to intense environmental pressures. The results of the water quality control samplings are combined in the Register with the state of the coast and, through this process, the official designation of water quality at the national level is attributed according to the current legislation. During the implementation of the monitoring program, the requirements of the European Directive 2006/7/EC “regarding the management of the quality of bathing waters” are observed, as it was harmonized in the national legislation with the KYA no. U.P. 8600/416/E103/23.2.2009 (Official Gazette B΄ 356/2009). The data of the Registry are sent every year mandatorily to the European Union in accordance with article 14 of the above General Law. The annual report is published on the website www.bathingwaterprofiles.gr.

Program Criteria

A. Sea and coast cleanliness
“Excellent” bathing water quality confirmed by sampling as defined by EU and national legislation.
Non-discharge in the area of ​​industrial and urban wastewater, without proper treatment and cleaning.
Adequate waste bins, which are emptied at regular intervals as well as special recycling bins.
Continuous, regular cleaning of the shore from garbage, cigarette butts, etc.
B. Shore organization
Continuous information of the public about the quality of the bathing waters, by posting the official results of the microbiological analyzes on the mandatory notice board of each coast.
Action plans to deal with any accidental marine pollution, with immediate public notification.
Prohibition of the movement of vehicles and mopeds on the coast.
Prohibition of free camping.
Adequate sanitary facilities, with a controlled drainage system.
C. Guest Safety
Presence of trained, qualified lifeguards on duty, in accordance with the provisions of the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy and the relevant legislation, or direct access to a telephone in case of emergency, life-saving supplies and first aid.
Accessibility and provision of services for people with special needs (PWD).
D. Nature protection and environmental awareness
Printed information and behavioral instructions for the coast, as well as for areas with sensitive natural environment, flora and fauna, in the coastal area.
Organization of activities by the manager of the coast, which confirm and implement his interest in the natural environment of the coast and the need to protect it.
Implementation of specific environmental education actions for visitors to the coast.