Nikos Petrou: Why the Blue Flag is most recognized eco label in the world

The Blue Flag is, indisputably, the most recognized eco-label in the world, states Mr Nikos Petrou, President of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN), in his interview to Tornos News. The HSPN is the national operator in Greece for the international programmes Blue Flag and Green Key.

In response to our questions, Mr Petrou clarifies the facts and fallacies regarding the Blue Flag Programme, and points out that its acceptance by international and national institutions worldwide as a valuable promotion tool for sustainable tourism, and by both the tourism industry worldwide and travellers-consumers as a key destination selection criterion, confirms its credibility.

Ha also corrects a very common misconception, namely that the Blue Flag is not a programme about water quality, but an environmental protection programme with two objectives: the responsible, sustainable management of coastal environment, both within the awarded beaches and around them, and the improvement of the environmental consciousness of visitors, staff and the local community through environmental education.

However, a new candidate beach must submit a history of least 20 samples confirming that the bathing water quality has been excellent over a long period.

Mr Petrou also notes that a beach may lose its Blue Flag if it does not comply with the criteria of the Programme. For example, he mentions that in 2014 the HSPN removed 39 flags, which cost Greece the second place in the world rankings for beaches in 2015 and 2016, since beaches that lose their award may only be candidates again after two years.

1. It is true that the criteria of the Blue Flag Programme are arbitrary, as is the choice of the national operators involved? 

The founder and International Coordinator of the Programme, the Foundation for Environmental Education (known as FEE), is an international non-governmental organisation comprised of members from 73 countries from around the globe. Its main goal is protection of the environment and sustainable development, and its "tool" is environmental education in various sectors, one of which is tourism.

As an independent organisation, the FEE designs for its programmes such criteria as it believes will best contribute to the achievement of its objectives. The criteria for the Blue Flag Programme have been developed in cooperation with international organisations and based on their scientific knowledge, experience and expertise. These organisations are the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the International Lifesaving Federation (ILS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and the Coastal and Marine Union (EUCC).

Moreover, the criteria are not static, but they are modified according to scientific and technical developments, such as, for example, changes in the regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO), global environmental pressures, but also the needs and particular circumstances in member countries. Any proposed changes are discussed in the annual national operator meetings, approved by expert scientific committees of the aforementioned institutions and confirmed by the General Assembly of the FEE.

The Blue Flag is, indisputably, the most recognized eco-label in the world. Its acceptance by international and national institutions worldwide as a valuable promotion tool for sustainable tourism, and by both the tourism industry worldwide and travellers-consumers as a key destination selection criterion, confirms its credibility.

Regarding the national operators, as an independent organization the FEE is, of course, free to select those organizations it believes will best represent it, and implement its programmes in the most efficient way. The selection is based on consistency, reliability, efficiency and long-term engagement in environmental conservation and environmental education. The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (henceforth HSPN), which this year celebrities 65 years of continuous action for environmental protection in our country, is one of the oldest members of the FEE. It implements all of its 5 programmes, it has served on its Board of Directors in the past and will be a candidate again in 2016, it has a strong presence with many initiatives and is highly regarded among its members.

2. How can the HSPN operate a programme about water quality since it gas no ability to carry out its own sampling? 

Allow me to correct a very common misconception. The Blue Flag is not a programme about water quality. It is a much broader an environmental protection programme with two objectives: the responsible, sustainable management of coastal environment, both within the awarded beaches and around them, and the improvement of the environmental consciousness of visitors, staff and the local community through environmental education. We must also add that the Programme bestows its international awards not only upon beaches but also upon marinas, and, as of this, year tourist boats. The two latter categories have their own criteria, designed in collaboration with relevant international organisations as I have described previously.

The criteria for bathing water quality are crucial, because the Blue Flag can not be given if water quality is other than “Excellent'”, but they are only 5 out of a total of 33 evaluated. The other criteria address cleanliness and services provided on the beach, sanitation, access to information about the services provided and the quality of the waters, safety of visitors and bathers, services for the disabled, as well as protection of natural environment within the beach area and around it, information on the local flora and fauna and environmental education activities.

The HSPN has a very long experience in natural environment management and environmental education. The continuous growth of the Programme, and the confidence shown towards it by the FEE, demonstrate its ability to implement the Blue Flag Programme.

The competence and experience of the HSPN is also recognised by national tourism institutions, such as the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (XEE), the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), the Hellenic Federation of Hotel Managers (PODIX), and others, with which there is long-term cooperation, as well as by local and regional authorities. The HSPN has signed Memoranda of Cooperation with the Regional Governments of Crete and the Southern Aegean to promote common objectives regarding sustainable tourism. The Ministry of Tourism, recognising the crucial contribution of the Blue Flag Programme to the improvement of services provided in beaches and marinas and the broader promotion of responsible tourism also signed, in 2013, a Memorandum of Cooperation with the HSPN.

Moreover, about a month ago, the HSPN was invited by the Subcommittee on Water Resources of the Special Permanent Committee for Environmental Protection of the Greek Parliament to inform the participants MPs on the procedures and prospects if the Programme. The Subcommittee acknowledged the Blue Flag as a powerful tool for the protection of coastal natural environment and for the promotion of Greek tourism. Attending MPs praised the work of the HSPN and asked for its proposals on how to expand and strengthen the Programme.

3. I will return to the issue of water quality and sampling, because there are complaints that you improperly use the results of the Ministry, whose accuracy is also questioned? 

In the European, and many other countries participating in the Blue Flag Programme, a total of 50 worldwide, the data used to assess the quality of bathing waters are provided by the central agencies that are institutionally entrusted with their monitoring.

In European Union Member States this monitoring is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the European Directive 2006/7/EC "concerning the management of bathing water quality”, which repealed Directive 76/160/EEC and sets out the objectives, the parameters, the management methods and technical details of the procedure. In Greece, the Directive was adopted into national legislation with the Common Ministerial Decree no. H.Π. 8600/416/E103/23.2.2009 (Government Gazette B’ 356/2009). Responsible for its implementation is the Special Secretariat for Water (EGY) of the Ministry for the Environment and Energy.

Sampling for bathing water quality is carried out by laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation System (ESYD), every 30 days throughout the bathing season, starting in May. The EGY gathers the sampling results, logs them in the register in the "Greek Bathing Waters Registry", publishes them online at the website www.bathingwaterprofiles.gr and submits an annual report to the appropriate EU authorities as stated in the aforementioned CMD (article 14).

The HSPN does not carry out sampling or analyses for the quality of bathing waters and does not itself use the water quality data. These data are used by the beach managers to support their application for the award. The HSPN accepts them as the most reliable and indisputable, since they come from the competent national institution, EGY. It then forwards them to the National Jury, which evaluates all applications and refers them, in turn, to the International Jury, which ultimately decides about the awards.

Here I must also point out that a new candidate beach must submit a history of least 20 samples confirming the excellent water quality over time.

Regarding the use of EGY water quality and beach profile data by the beach managers, access of the public to information, for all purposes, is a key pillar of European legislation. Specifically, Directive 2006/7/EC clearly stipulates participation of (Article 11), and access to information for (Article 12) the public. It explicitly states that Member States must ensure that information on the quality of bathing water “is actively disseminated and promptly made available during the bathing season .... using all appropriate media and technologies, including the Internet, to disseminate actively and promptly the information".

According to the Programme rules, beach managers are required to display immediately, every month, the water quality results on the special information board, so that all users of the beach are informed.  Lack of the current sampling results on the board may result in removal of the Blue Flag.

Concerning the accuracy of the national water quality results as provided by the EGY for some beaches, we can only say is that those that dispute them should prove that they have the technical competence (accreditation by ESYD) and follow exactly the same procedure (same sampling point, same depth, repeated sampling throughout the bathing season, same sampling technique, same technique of microbiological analysis, etc.) in order for the results to be comparable. Obviously, if one were to take 1-2 samples, in a short period, perhaps after a week of rains has carried huge loads of pollutants into the sea, with a non-sterile plastic bottle, etc., then one might end up completely different results. However, such results would not be not comparable to those of the EGY, nor would they be reliable.

4. How can you possibly award the Blue Flags in 2016 based on data from 2015? 

How else could it be? How could we award the Flag at the start of the bathing season when the water quality has not yet been tested? How could we reward the future compliance of beach managers with the criteria, which have no way of determining?

The Blue Flag is an annual award for the compliance with the Programme criteria during the previous year, for which we have confirmed information. At the same time, the application embodies the manager’s full commitment to comply with the criteria during the current year as well.

Compliance with the criteria for all beaches, and marinas, is verified during the current season by monitors of the HSPN, and with unannounced spot checks by international Auditors of the FEE. Another safeguard is the complaints from beach users that have detected problems, either directly to the HSPN, as national operator,  or to the International Coordinator, the FEE. In cases of complaints additional control vits are always made, as demanded by the complaint’s nature.

If case of problems or non-compliance with the criteria, the Blue Flag can be temporarily removed until the problems are rectified, or even permanently withdrawn if the situation does not improve. To anticipate your next question, the HSPN withdraws Blue Flags every year, because our main objective, and that of FEE internationally, is, above all, to preserve the credibility of the program. In 2014, for example, we removed 39 flags, which cost us the second place in the world rankings for beaches in 2015 and 2016, since beaches that lose their award may only be candidates again after two years.

5. Why do you exclude beaches that do not have beach loungers but may have better water quality?  

Firstly, any awarded beach must have Excellent water quality, so other beaches may have the same, but not better quality.

As I already explained, the Blue Flag is an environmental management programme. Therefore, It can only include organised beaches, with a manager who will provide and maintain the sanitation and guest infrastructures, the access for disabled visitors, the lifesaving equipment, etc., and will implement actions for the protection and enhancement of the natural environment and environmental education.

Participation in the Blue Flag Programme is voluntary and open to all, with no exclusions, as long as all the criteria are met. 

6. How reliable can the programme be when its operator, the HSPN, also decides about the awards according to its own, arbitrary criteria?

About the criteria, I described earlier how they are designed, in collaboration with the most competent international organisations. I must point out that the criteria for bathing water quality also strictly follow the requirements of the European Directive 2006/7/EC. It is also worth mentioning that, when the program began in 1987, the European Commission strongly supported it -and still supports it- as an ideal "tool" to promote the first Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) which Member States were then implementing at a very slow pace.

Regarding the awards, I must correct another misconception. The HSPN does not decide who will receive the Blue Flag and who will not.

The HSPN evaluate the applications of candidates, it verifies the adequacy of supporting documentation, particularly with regard to bathing water quality, and then submits its recommendations to the National Jury.

The National Jury consists of representatives from EGY, the Ministry of Finance, Development and Tourism, the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Ministry of the Interior, the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), the Coast Guard, the Hellenic Red Cross, the environmental NGO ARCHELON and the Volunteer Inspectors of beaches and marinas. 

Often the National Jury rejects candidates because they do not meet the criteria, particularly those of visitor safety and quality of water. Its final recommendations are submitted to the International Jury. 

The International Jury is the one that ultimately decides, after reviewing the recommendations of the National Juries, for the awards worldwide. It consists of representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the International Lifesaving Federation (ILSE), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), the Coastal and Marine Union (EUCC) and the FEE Board of Directors. An independent scientist, specialising in Environmental Education, also holds a place in the International Jury.

As you can see the Programme has three independent control levels, of increasing status and independence, guaranteeing transparency and impartiality of awards.

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