Twelve beaches awarded by the International Environmental Education, Information and Awareness Program “Blue Flag” were withdrawn from the national and international list of 2025 and lost their award, because they either did not organize this year’s swimming season or did not meet the strict criteria of the Program, as established by the evaluations so far.
According to the Program’s procedure, the evaluators of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (ESPN) and international evaluators who made unannounced visits, found deficiencies in the required compliance with the criteria that specifically related to: provision of services to bathers and visitors (including disabled people), safety of bathers/visitors and correct information. The deadline for displaying the Blue Flag was July 1. The members of the National Crisis Committee and the Program Coordination Committee decided, as foreseen, to withdraw the awards in order to preserve the prestige and credibility of the institution.
The EEPF points out that the withdrawal of the awards from the beaches in question is due to poor organization and that the quality of the bathing water remains, according to the standards of the Program, excellent.
The 12 beaches that are being withdrawn are the following:
Plaka Beach, Municipality of Nafplio, Argolida Region
Kondyli Beach, Municipality of Nafplio, Argolida Region
Karathona Beach, Municipality of Nafplio, Argolida Region
Tolo Beach, Municipality of Nafplio, Argolida Region Argolis
Lychnos Beach, Municipality of Parga, Preveza Region
Georgioupoli/Fereniki Beach, Apokoronas Municipality, Chania Region
Vasilias Beach, Skiathos Municipality, Sporades Region
Kanapitsa Beach, Skiathos Municipality, Sporades Region
Aselinos Beach, Skiathos Municipality, Sporades Region
Gournes Elia Beach, Skiathos Municipality, Sporades Region
Ambelakia/Elivi Beach, Skiathos Municipality, Sporades Region
Fanari/Camping Beach, Komotini Municipality, Rodopi Region
In parallel, inspection visits continue to all the award-winning beaches of the country, visits that, for the most part, are made unannounced. If deficiencies in compliance with the criteria are found on other coasts, other withdrawals will follow.
