What is Blue Flag The Blue Flag Campaign is recognized by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). It's main purpose is to develop the conscience of environmental education by co-operating with the local associations and companies.  The Blue Flag is the symbol of high quality management and a clean and secure environment. Places where the Blue Flag waves indicate they are one step ahead of the others, as tourists today prefer the places which warrant the best holiday for them.  The award of the Blue Flag is currently based on 26 criteria for beaches and 16 criteria for the marinas covering the same four aspects of management:    Water Quality    Environmental Education and Information    Environmental Management    Safety and Services.

The Blue Flag was born in France in 1985 where the first French coastal municipalities were awarded the Blue Flag on the basis of criteria covering sewage treatment and bathing water quality.

Blue Flag on European level in 1987
1987 was the "European Year of the Environment" and the European Commission was responsible for developing the European Community activities of that year. The Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE) presented the concept of the Blue Flag to the Commission, and it was agreed to launch the Blue Flag Campaign as one of several "European Year of the Environment" activities in the Community.

The French concept of the Blue Flag was developed on European level to include other areas of environmental management, such as waste management and coastal planning and protection. Besides beaches marinas also became eligible for the Blue Flag.

In 1987, 244 beaches and 208 marinas from 10 countries were awarded the Blue Flag.

The Blue Flag success
Since 1987 the Campaign has year after year increased in numbers of Blue Flags. The criteria have during these years been changed to more strict criteria. As an example, in 1992 the Campaign started using the restrictive guideline values in the EEC Bathing Water Directive as imperative criteria, and this was also the year where all Blue Flag criteria became the same in all participating countries

The Blue Flag Campaign outside Europe
In 2001 FEE decided to become a global organisation by changing the name from FEEE to FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education).

Several organisations and authorities outside Europe have made applications to FEE, wishing for co-operation on spreading the Blue Flag Campaign to non-European countries. FEE has been co-operating with UNEP and WTO on extending the Campaign to areas outside Europe. The Blue Flag Campaign is already implemented in the Republic of South Africa, and FEE is currently working on implementing the Campaign in 5 countries in the Caribbean and Canada.  Furthermore, Chile, New Zeeland and Russia are about to start the implementation of the Blue Flag Campaign. Interest is also expressed by Australia, USA, Argentina and countries in South East Africa.

FEE has made the overall decision that the beach criteria within a region should be similar. The beach criteria can however vary from region to region reflecting the specific environmental conditions of the region.

The Campaign today
In 2004, 2312 beaches and 605 marinas were awarded the Blue Flag.

25 countries are currently participating in the Blue Flag Campaign: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Five countries in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic, are in the pilot phase and will run pilot  beaches this season.

Morocco, Canada and Poland are working on establishing the Blue Flag Campaign  and hope to be in the pilot phase soon. 

Chile, Malta, New Zeeland and Russia are about to start the implementation of the Blue Flag Campaign