Cyprus has achieved a flawless 100% score in the EU's annual Bathing Water Report, with all 123 monitored coastal sites officially ranked as "excellent."

Cyprus Among Countries with "Excellent" Bathing Waters According to EU Report

Cyprus is listed among the top-performing countries in the European Union regarding the quality of bathing waters, as in 2025 all 123 bathing sites monitored across all free districts of the Republic of Cyprus were ranked in the highest category of "excellent quality."

According to the latest annual EU Bathing Water Report, Cyprus is grouped with Austria, Bulgaria, and Greece among the countries where over 95% of bathing waters were assessed as being of excellent quality. In the case of Cyprus, the percentage reached 100%, as all 123 bathing areas evaluated during the 2025 swimming season received the highest possible ranking.

European Standards and Data Breakdown

As stated in a European Commission announcement published on Tuesday, 85% of monitored bathing sites in Europe were classified as being of "excellent quality," while 96% met at least the minimum EU quality standards. Just 1.5% of swimming sites were characterized as "poor quality." According to the Commission, the overall picture remained essentially stable compared to 2024.

The assessment was based on data from more than 22,200 bathing areas monitored during the 2025 season across all EU member states, as well as in Albania and Switzerland. For Cyprus, a total of 1,198 water samples were collected and analyzed from the 123 declared bathing areas.

According to the announcement, the quality of coastal waters generally remains higher than that of inland waters. In 2025, 88% of coastal bathing waters in the EU were classified as excellent quality, compared to 78% of inland waters, such as rivers and lakes.

Interactive Tools and Health Parameters

The Commission notes that the assessment examines the suitability of water for swimming, focusing on monitoring bacteria that could cause serious illness to swimmers. At the same time, an updated interactive map was published, allowing citizens to stay informed about the quality of every bathing area in Europe. It is noted that the assessment and the interactive map were compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in cooperation with the Commission.

European Frameworks and Climate Action

As highlighted in the announcement, the long-term improvement in bathing water quality is attributed to the implementation of European water legislation, including the Bathing Water Directive. Progress is linked to better monitoring and management practices, investments in urban wastewater treatment plants, improved sewage collection networks, and more effective assessment of phenomena such as cyanobacteria blooms.

The Commission notes that these continuous interventions have made safe swimming possible even in urban waters and rivers that were heavily polluted in the past. Concurrently, it stresses that further progress is required to tackle challenges such as chemical pollution and the impacts of climate change on surface and groundwater.

According to the Commission, protecting and improving water quality constitutes a core element of the European water resilience strategy, aiming to ensure healthy and resilient aquatic ecosystems for the benefit of both citizens and the natural environment.

Source: Avant-Garde