In a recent report by the European Union’s Environment Commission, Belgium is the only country among the union’s 15 members to have all of its coastal and freshwater beaches declared safe for bathing. France, by contrast, saw 88 percent of its beaches pass the test. Throughout the European Union, 97 percent of coastal beaches and 93 percent of freshwater beaches have been declared safe this year. The study took into account bacteria levels but not shore conditions. All areas that failed to pass the test were closed to the public.
