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WHO CAN APPLY?

• For a beach, the municipality can apply for the Blue Flag. For a marina, the marina owner applies for the Blue Flag. The responsible local authority files the application form (with enclosed documentation) and sends it to the National Jury. For beaches approved bathing water data from the previous year has to be submitted as documentation together with the application as well.
  
  
• To be eligible for the Blue Flag a beach/marina has to fulfill all imperative requirements, and in addition, the fulfillment of a maximum number of guideline criteria is taken into account.

THE NATIONAL JURY

• The National Jury is composed of all major relevant stakeholders on the national level.
  
  
• The National Jury evaluates the applications for compliance with the Blue Flag criteria and gives an approval or rejection on the national level. In special cases the National Jury can recommend a dispensation.

THE INTERNATIONAL JURY

• The approved applications and the dispensation cases are forwarded from the National Jury to the International Jury.
  
  
• The International Jury is composed of the major relevant stakeholders on the international level.
  
  
• The International Jury carries out an evaluation before it finally decides which beaches and marinas to be awarded the Blue Flag for the season.

AWARD FOR ONE SEASON

• A Blue Flag awarded beach/marina is only awarded for one season. By renewing the award each season the Programme ensures that the beach/marina is constantly living up to the criteria.

COMPLIANCE WITH THE CRITERIA DURING THE SEASON

• The local authority is obliged to ensure compliance with the criteria whenever flying with the Blue Flag.
  
  
• Visitor and guests at Blue Flag beaches/marinas are good observers of compliance with the Blue Flag criteria at the sites.
  
  
• During the season, the national environmental protection agency is controlling the bathing water quality data.
  
  
• The national organisation and the International Blue Flag Coordination are furthermore performing control visits to the Blue Flag sites.
  
  
• In all cases of non-compliance with imperative criteria, the Blue Flag will be withdrawn.