Member states of the Union for the Mediterranean

Every year, the European Environment Agency (EEA) compiles bathing water data gathered by local authorities across the 27 European Union member states, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Albania - measuring levels of bacteria from sewage and livestock. More than two thirds of sites are coastal beaches, with rivers and lakes making up the remainder.

The fourth round of meetings on confidence-building measures between Turkish and Greek delegations concluded on May 27. 

The virtual meeting was held on May 26-27, in which both sides agreed to continue talks on confidence-building measures, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Activists and Interior Ministry representatives at the commemoration in Herceg Novi. Photo: Human Rights Action.

On May 25 and 27, 1992, the Bosniaks and Serbs were illegally detained and brought to the police headquarters in Herceg Novi, near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, from where they were deported on buses to Bosnian Serb-controlled territory.

Italy is pushing EU partners to revive migrant burden-sharing deals as it seeks to stave off a summertime surge in landings from North Africa, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Wednesday (12 May).

Migration has returned to the top of the political agenda in Italy after more than 2,200 asylum-seekers from Tunisia and Libya arrived on its tiny island of Lampedusa last weekend.

A survey of Croatian high school pupils showed that less than a third of the participants consider Croatia's World War II Nazi-allied state a fascist state and over half were either undecided or unwilling to give their opinion.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša has condemned extremism after members of a radical Islamist group in Bosnia and Herzegovina protested in front of the Slovenian embassy in Sarajevo Sunday over an alleged non-paper linked to Slovenia that speaks about the breakup of Bosnia-Herzegovina along ethnic lines.

Locals in Montenegro's coastal resort towns fear another bad tourist season lies ahead, as most of the resorts on the Adriatic are still almost empty. The country is recording a high number of COVID-19 cases, restrictive health measures remain in force and curfew is enforced from 10 pm to 5 am. Intercity traffic is also prohibited.

Zagreb – Members of the Slovenian ethnic minority in Croatia can no longer enter Slovenia without a negative PCR test from today, which means hassle and expenses in particular for those who regularly cross the border, their representative has warned.

The Greeks are distinguished by patriotism, says Ambassador of Greece in Bucharest Sofia Grammata, who emphasizes that the Greek people are very proud of their history. "The great Greek diaspora, from around the world, maintains strong ties with Greece, with its customs and traditions.

The next round of consultative talks between Turkey and Greece will be held in Athens on March 16-17, Turkish officials said on March 10. 

The two countries are looking for solutions to disputes regarding the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas.

The previous round of meetings was in Istanbul on Jan. 25.