WHERE ARE EUROPE’S CLEANEST BEACHES?

The latest analysis by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which examined 22,127 coastal, lake, and river bathing sites, reveals that 85 percent of beaches across Europe have been rated as having excellent water quality. Once again, Cyprus tops the list as the best destination for swimmers, while Croatia ranks fifth.

More than 99 percent of bathing waters in Cyprus received the highest rating, continuing the island nation's long-standing presence at the top of the cleanliness charts.

Good news also comes for travelers heading to the Black Sea this summer—Bulgaria has climbed three places to take second position, with 98 percent of its bathing sites rated excellent.

Following Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece, and Austria, Croatia secured the fifth spot, reinforcing its reputation as a country with pristine coastal waters.

On the other hand, Albania, a rising tourist destination in Europe, recorded the lowest percentage of top-rated beaches, with only 16 percent rated excellent. Alarmingly, 23 percent of its bathing sites were rated as poor.

Plastic and microplastic pollution further worsens the situation. According to a 2020 report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Albania had the third-highest per capita plastic waste leakage into waters, after Montenegro and North Macedonia—an estimated three kilograms per person annually.