The European Environment Agency reports that most bathing waters across Europe meet high standards ahead of the summer season. In the latest EU bathing water assessment, 22,200 bathing sites are monitored. About 85% of these sites meet the “excellent” quality standard, which is set as the most stringent category. The report also says that 96% of monitored sites meet at least the minimum required water quality standard for bathing. Only a small share of sites falls below the “excellent” category, with a limited proportion rated as poorer quality. The outlets covering the study note that both coastal areas and inland locations in countries such as Austria perform strongly, with the best results concentrated in multiple countries. The reporting emphasizes that overall water quality is high across the region, though a minority of sites do not reach the top standard and may require attention. The findings are presented as a broad indicator of bathing water conditions for the upcoming season, based on the agency’s monitoring and classification of sites.