Which concerns?
Six more coasts awarded by the International Program for Environmental Education, Information and Awareness “Blue Flag” were withdrawn from the 2024 national and international list and lost their award, either because they did not organize this year’s swimming season, or because they did not meet the strict criteria of the Program, as determined by the evaluations so far.
As announced, during the Program process, after the unannounced visits to the coasts by the volunteer-assessors of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and following communication of the Program Secretariat with the competent managers of the coasts, deficiencies were found in the enforced observance of the criteria that specifically concerned in: provision of services to bathers and visitors (including the disabled), cleanliness, proper information, safety of bathers and visitors, proper environmental management, actions to protect the coastal environment and coastal space, as well as covering free coastal space.
The deadline for posting the Blue Flag was July 1st. The members of the National Crisis Committee and the Program Coordinating Committee decided, as expected, to withdraw the awards in order to preserve the prestige and credibility of the institution.
According to the terms of the Blue Flag Programme, the coasts in question cannot be nominated for an award the following year. The period for the Program officially ends on October 31st. Coast managers may expire their award coast earlier than 31 October (but not earlier than 15 September) and must notify the Program Secretariat accordingly. At the end of the period and in accordance with the Program procedure, the Blue Flag should be raised from the web, all forms should be removed from the Notice Board and only the recent swim results and the “End of Period” poster should be placed on it ».
It is emphasized by the authorities that the withdrawal of the beaches is due to poor organization and that the quality of the bathing waters remains, according to the standards of the Program, excellent.
The 6 coasts, which are withdrawn are the following:
Akti Theologos, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. Dodecanese
Akti Kiotari Angeliena 1, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. Dodecanese
Akti Ladiko, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. Dodecanese
Faliraki Coast Limanaki, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. Dodecanese
Akti Reni, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. Dodecanese
Akti ‘Antoni Quinn, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. Dodecanese
