What brought you to Brussels?
I was born next to the sea, and throughout my life the sea has been very important to me, it is part of who I am.
Did you study Political Science to defend the rights of the sea?
Yes, and of rivers and lakes, and therefore of humans. I think it is essential that politicians take water quality seriously in 2023, we must fight for a good state of European oceans, rivers and lakes.
What is the current state of oceans, rivers and lakes in Europe?
The 2023 report on the quality of European bathing waters has just been published, which has been carried out with the measurements of the year 2022.
And who publishes this report?
It is an annual exercise by the European Environment Agency and the European Commission, something very commendable and advanced.
And what does the report say?
According to this report, 85.7 percent of Europe's bathing areas are in excellent condition, and 95.9 percent of these areas meet minimum standards.
Excellent news, even if this is minimal...
Official analyses, as they are currently done, do not offer a true picture of the state of our bathing and leisure areas.
Need.
On the one hand, the proliferation of algae and plastic waste are only included in beach profiles or simply inspected visually. On the other hand, chemical pollution is not taken into account at all.
Not so good news, then.
Bathing water quality analyzes and zone classification include only two bacteriological control criteria.
There must be thousands of bacteria.
They analyze those that the European authorities consider to have a more direct impact on human health: Escherichia coli and intestinal.
Any other notable failures?
The report only mentions the samples taken during the summer season, and only in the swimming areas identified as such.
And doesn't it seem like enough?
Our oenagé, Surfrider Foundation Europe, points out that there are many water sports and water activities that take place throughout the year, often in places other than swimming areas.
And in these areas there are no measurements?
No, and these people also deserve to be informed about the quality of the water when they work or play sports in it.
And what do you propose?
Among the main recommendations, we ask that new parameters to be monitored be added, such as waste, harmful and toxic algal blooms and chemical pollutants, elements that are not yet included in the directive's considerations.
Further analysis is required.
Yes, because it is difficult to talk about excellent bathing water quality when there is widespread concern and doubt about the impact of this pollution on health.
certainly
There are serious emerging risks such as antibiotic resistance, which ends up in our waters, microplastics or pharmaceutical substances and other pollutants.
I thought this was already under control.
Just a few days ago, The Lancet's Commission on Pollution and Health announced that pollution was responsible for 9 million deaths a year worldwide, a figure that has remained stable since 2015.
It's incredible.
The Lancet also reported that pollution from toxic chemicals has been a growing, but largely overlooked, threat over recent years. This is a pre-occupancy figure.
In Europe we have one of the most ambitious environmental policies.
With the Green Pact and the Zero Pollution action plan, the Commission had opted for an ambitious policy, it is true. That is why it is frustrating to see that some of these commitments will not be fulfilled on time and that they are being delayed more and more each time.
Is the environment no longer a priority?
We must work urgently to achieve a strong new directive that protects the health of the ocean and the health of Europeans.
Thank you for watching over us.
We are facing a decisive legislative moment. It is expected that at the beginning of 2023 a proposal will be presented to review the EU directive on the management of the quality of bathing water 2006/7/EC, which has been delayed on several occasions. More means must be made available to the states.
