Spain
May 21, 2026
Spain Dismantled a Record 109 Dams in 2025, Reconnecting Over 2,300 Miles of European Rivers
Spain led Europe for the second consecutive year by removing 109 obsolete river barriers in 2025, bringing its total decommissioned dams and weirs to over 200. The effort is part of the EU's goal to restore 15,500 miles of free-flowing rivers by 2030. Europe reconnected 2,324 miles of river in total last year through barrier removals — a sixfold increase since 2020.
theguardian.com ↗
Cyprus & Greece
Jun 20, 2025
Europe Has Over 22,000 'Excellent' Bathing Sites — Cyprus and Greece Among the World's Cleanest
The latest European Environment Agency bathing water assessment found that 85%+ of all EU monitored sites meet the highest "excellent" quality standard. Cyprus achieved 99.2% excellent bathing waters (up from 97.6%), Greece reached 97%, and Bulgaria hit 97.9%. Coastal waters consistently outperform inland sites (89% vs 78% excellent). The EU Bathing Water Directive has driven continuous improvement since 2006.
eea.europa.eu ↗
EU / Mediterranean
Jun 4, 2025
EU Unveils €15 Billion Water Resilience Strategy to Restore Mediterranean Rivers and Wetlands
The European Commission formally adopted its Water Resilience Strategy in June 2025, committing €15 billion to protect and restore water ecosystems across priority Mediterranean regions including Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, France, and Malta. An EU Water Resilience Forum was launched in December 2025, bringing together over 300 local authorities to coordinate national restoration plans.
ec.europa.eu ↗
Spain
May 15, 2025
Salmon Return to Spain's Basque Rivers as Historic Dam Removal Opens 8km of Habitat
The 120-year-old Galtzaraberri dam on the Karrika River in Spain's Basque Country was fully demolished, reopening 8 kilometres of river for fish migration for the first time in more than a century. Atlantic salmon were spotted upstream within months of removal — the result of careful community engagement, including 670 local schoolchildren. Spain removed a record 96 river barriers in 2025 alone, cementing its status as a European leader in river restoration.
eib.org ↗
EU
Mar 26, 2026
European Parliament Approves Historic Law to Slash Water Pollution — Including "Forever Chemicals"
MEPs voted in March 2026 to greenlight sweeping new rules reducing groundwater and surface water pollution across all EU states. The legislation adds PFAS, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and microplastics to mandatory monitoring — raising drinking water standards for millions across Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, and Cyprus.
europarl.europa.eu ↗
Spain / EU
Mar 10, 2026
Spain Secures €29.7 Million to Restore 26,200 Hectares of Wetlands Across 107 Nature Sites
The EU awarded Spain the largest single grant in LIFE programme history — €29.7 million for LIFE HumedalES — to restore 26,200 hectares of wetlands across 107 Natura 2000 sites, improving water quality, flood protection, and biodiversity.
europeantimes.news ↗
Portugal
Jan 21, 2026
Portugal Launches €187 Million River Restoration Plan to Protect 100,000 Residents
Portugal unveiled Pró-Rios, its most ambitious river restoration programme ever — committing €187 million to recover over 1,000 kilometres of riverbeds by 2029. The plan targets high-risk flood areas in Lisbon, Faro, and the Algarve, renaturalising riverbeds and eradicating invasive species.
noticiasambientales.com ↗
Portugal
Jan 22, 2026
Portugal's Water Innovation Wins European Award for Protecting Rivers from Pharmaceuticals
The LIFE Fitting project won the PT Global Water Awards after testing 60 types of micropollutants at three major treatment plants — reducing chemical use by 19.4 tonnes/year and setting a new EU standard for pharmaceutical removal.
cinea.ec.europa.eu ↗
Croatia / EU
Mar 26, 2026
Europe's "Amazon of Europe" River Wins Double Award After Massive Restoration Success
The DRAVA LIFE project — Croatia's largest river restoration — restored 9 km of side channels and 320 hectares of floodplain habitat, bringing back rare species and winning two EU LIFE Awards for nature and biodiversity.
cinea.ec.europa.eu ↗
Sweden / EU
Mar 26, 2026
EU Water Project Cleans Up 1,000+ Waterways and Brings Fish Back to Swedish Rivers
The LIFE Rich Waters project delivered measurable results across 1,000+ water bodies in Sweden, opening 28.5 hectares of new spawning habitat for fish and restoring connectivity to dozens of river systems.
cinea.ec.europa.eu ↗
Greece
Jul 21, 2025
Greek PM Announces Two National Marine Parks in Ionian and Aegean Seas
Greece has created two new marine parks — in the Ionian Sea and Southern Cyclades — covering approximately 27,500 km² and positioned as among the largest in the entire Mediterranean. The announcement, made by PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, makes Greece the first European country to implement a nationwide ban on bottom trawling inside marine protected areas, with the parks also integrating 42 existing Natura 2000 sites.
euronews.com ↗
Portugal
Jun 11, 2025
Portugal Leads on Marine Protection with New Designated Area
Portugal announced the creation of a 100,000 km² marine protected area around the Gorringe Ridge — Western Europe's tallest seamount, rising 5,000 metres from the Atlantic seafloor — at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice. The reserve, informed by an Oceano Azul Foundation scientific expedition that documented over 200 marine species including deep-sea corals, kelp forests, and critical nurseries for sharks, rays, and sea turtles, will raise Portugal's total marine protection to 27%.
reuters.com ↗
Spain
Mar 2025
Spain Removes Second Dam on the Ebro River, Restoring 40km of Free-Flowing River
Obsolete dam removal enables Atlantic sturgeon and shad migration for the first time in 100+ years. Part of Spain's national river restoration plan aligned with EU Restoration Law.
euronews.com ↗
Portugal
Nov 2024
Portugal Completes Major Wetland Restoration at Sado River Estuary
120 hectares of critical wetland habitat restored, tidal connectivity re-established, migratory fish returning to areas absent for decades. Project co-funded by EU LIFE programme.
theportugalnews.com ↗
European Union
Jun 2024
EU Adopts Landmark Restoration Law with Binding River and Water Quality Targets
New law mandates restoration of 20% of EU land/sea by 2030, with specific river continuity targets, wetland revival requirements, and water quality improvement obligations — Mediterranean basin prioritised.
ec.europa.eu ↗
