Cyprus had been ranked highest in the European Union for the water quality of its beaches for the second year in a row, the European Environment Agency said, while extreme flooding washed more pollution into Central European lakes and streams.

Malta was just tipped to the top spot, with 99 per cent, but overall the water quality of beaches, lakes, and rivers improved across the continent last year, the agency said in its annual report.

Some 95 per cent of swimming sites in the EU met minimum water quality standards in 2013, up slightly from 94 per cent in 2012, according to the agency, which provides scientific data to guide policymakers.

Inland waters suffered because extreme flooding had funnelled sewage into lakes and streams, the report said.

Inland waters suffered because extreme flooding had funnelled sewage into lakes and streams

About 90 per cent of inland sites met minimum quality standards, down slightly from 91 per cent in 2012.

But around 97 per cent of coastal waters met quality standards, almost steady with the previous year.

Southern Mediterranean countries, which rely heavily on pristine seas to attract tourism revenues, had the highest rankings.

All of Cyprus bathing sites were deemed ‘excellent’, followed by Malta, which achieved 99 per cent, Croatia at 95 per cent and Greece at 93 per cent.

Meanwhile, other nations continue to lag.

In Estonia, some six per cent of the country’s bathing sites were of ‘poor’ quality, the lowest classification out of four, failing to meet EU standards.

The Netherlands and Belgium followed closely behind, scoring a mere four per cent and five per cent respectively.

Germany was harder-hit than Belgium by last year’s flooding, the report said, but still managed to ensure 92 per cent of its 2,000 inland water sites met quality standards.

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