History

The concept of the Blue Flag was born in France. In 1985, French coastal municipalities were awarded with the Blue Flag for complying with sewage treatment and bathing water quality criteria.

In 1987, the "European Year of the Environment", the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE) presented the French concept to the Eurpoean Commission, and the Blue Flag Programme was launched as one of the year’s community activities.

In addition to sewage treatment and bathing water quality, criteria for obtaining a Blue Flag on a European level included other areas of environmental management, such as waste management and coastal planning and protection. Marinas were also made eligable for the award.

In 1987 the Blue Flag was awarded to 244 beaches and 208 marinas in ten European countries.

In 2001 FEE became a global organisation and changed its name from FEEE to FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). Since then, many organisations and authorities outside Europe wishing for cooperation on spreading the Blue Flag Programme have made applications to FEE.

With the expansion of the program, the criteria has become more rigorous and unified. As of 2006 an international set of criteria is being used with some variation within to reflect the specific environmental conditions of certain regions.