"The large majority of the bathing areas within the European Union meet the EU hygienic standards". This is the main conclusion reached by the Yearly Report on bathing areas, submitted today by the Commission, concerning 2006 statistics. "96% of the coastal bathing areas and 89% of the rivers and lakes meet according to the Executive’s experts the so-called imperative standards", so they have been awarded the "blue sticker". Despite this, "the removal of some bathing areas from the official list, even if fewer than before, keeps being a cause for concern" for Brussels. The purpose of the report, as explained by the Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, is to provide "helpful information about the quality of waters to the millions of bathers who hang around the European beaches every summer". The Commissioner adds: "It is comforting to see that the number of inland bathing areas that meets the standards has increased in 2006, compared with the disappointing drop of 2005. I am still worried, though, about the number of places that have been struck off the list. The removal of a polluted area cannot be a solution. The members states must develop reclamation and redevelopment plans, instead". (continued)
