The European Correspondent

Not as long as you think, at least if you're in Istanbul. More than 2,800 swimmers participated this weekend in the annual Bosporus Cross-Continental Swimming Race. Starting on the Asian side of Istanbul, the race takes about 6.5 km to reach the European side. Swimmers don't only need to master distance but also the strait's powerful currents. This year, the fastest male and female swimmers took 45.27 minutes and 46.57 minutes, respectively. But it is not really about winning. While some contestants are professional swimmers, the race is also open to trained amateurs who dare to jump into the sea. The Bosporus is usually a very busy shipping lane, with around 130 ships and countless more ferries passing through every day. But on the weekend, it was closed to shipping traffic for a few hours, allowing participants to make the legendary swim. A commentary by Julius E. O. Fintelmann. Read here: https://buff.ly/3XhvcyG

Tap water in most European countries is of high quality, yet bottled water sales continue to rise. Concerns over safety and preferences for taste or odour often drive this choice. On average, EU citizens consume 106 litres of bottled water per person annually, with significant variations across countries. In Italy, 43% of the population drinks only bottled water, averaging 208 litres per person annually, despite having excellent tap water with an EPI score of 97.8. In contrast, Swedes, whose tap water has a perfect EPI score of 100, consume just 10 litres of bottled water per person each year. Created by Juliana Regoso.

Last week, a 19-year-old tragically lost his life due to a broken seat at an unlicensed amusement park in Halkidiki, Greece. His brother recalled watching in horror as their seat detached mid-ride. While the park owner was arrested, the operator remains at large. This incident highlights the ongoing safety issues in amusement parks across Greece and the Balkans, where regulations are often ignored, leading to preventable tragedies. A Long Story by Maro Samara and Konstantin Hadži-Vuković. Read here: https://buff.ly/3MmoYr6

Summer is ending but the political debate on beach ownership in Italy is not over. This summer season was especially challenging for Italian beach bar owners and clubs. In Italy, beach land is public property, meaning the state owns the shores but can lease them to private businesses – provided that they still allow non-paying customers access to the beach. A portion of the beach must remain free within the city and natural reserves are exempt from possible leases. Yet, over the years, beach bars and businesses have expanded, often occupying entire shorelines and effectively making free beaches disappear. While the situation varies from region to region, only a few beaches where you do not have to pay remain. Beach club operators have increasingly behaved in a cartel-like style, taking advantage of any free centimetre to profit from renting sunbeds and umbrellas. This unchecked expansion has been possible due to consistent government protection. Despite mounting pressure from the EU to enforce fair competition, every Italian government has postponed the renewal of beach club licences (which would allow other people to start their beach club business). The sector still goes on with the licences given in the postwar period, often at ridiculously low fees. Operators lobbied hard to freeze the status quo, and they managed – until this year. The Italian council of ministers recently confirmed that operating licences must be auctioned off by the end of the year. Shortly after, the EU Court of Justice ruled against the operators in a dispute over beach structure ownership. In response, operators briefly went on strike, but the government ultimately had to bow to EU pressure and begin liberalising the sector. A commentary by Giacomo Fracassi. Read here: https://buff.ly/3yIAmdK

Who is Pablo González Yagüe? Born to a Basque mother and Russian father, the journalist was arrested in Poland in 2022 on charges of spying for the Kremlin. His controversial release in a major prisoner exchange between Russia and the West raises questions about his innocence and Europe's growing paranoia about Russian espionage. Is he a victim of political tension or truly a spy? A Long Story by Jokin de Carlos Sola. Read here: https://buff.ly/3yT0ySW

Despite growing demand, c0ca1ne seizures in Europe's primary entry ports have decreased in the first half of 2024. How are smugglers managing to keep up with Europe's high demand? Should authorities continue dedicating resources to combat smuggling? Share your thoughts in the comments!

The EU continues to work against its own goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. By over-relying on private companies to decarbonise themselves, EU climate policy is on a path towards more corporate intransparency, and more carbon offsets. The Green Claims Directive, which will likely enter into force in 2026, requires companies to back up claims about the environmental impacts of their products using "verifiable sources". However, simply requiring companies to disclose the quantity and paper-trail source of their emissions does not go far enough to transition the economy to Net Zero. 🖋️ Report by Laoise Murray and Hazar Deniz Eker

Azerbaijan recently announced its bid for BRICS membership following President Putin's visit to Baku. This move highlights Azerbaijan's strategic balancing act between Russia and the EU, with the country emerging as a key ally for Moscow while maintaining crucial energy ties with Europe. Azerbaijan's application to BRICS signals its intent to prioritize economic interests over democratic values. This decision raises questions about the future of its relations with the West. A Long Story by Sofiya Tryzub-Cook. Read here: https://buff.ly/4dSFNFy

Azerbaijan recently announced its bid for BRICS membership following President Putin's visit to Baku. This move highlights Azerbaijan's strategic balancing act between Russia and the EU, with the country emerging as a key ally for Moscow while maintaining crucial energy ties with Europe. Azerbaijan's application to BRICS signals its intent to prioritize economic interests over democratic values. This decision raises questions about the future of its relations with the West. Sunday's Long Story by Sofiya Tryzub-Cook. Read here: https://buff.ly/4dSFNFy

The European Commission announced that it will "temporarily" reintroduce the 100ml restriction on liquids carried in hand luggage starting 1 September. The U-turn is particularly damaging for airports that chose to invest in new expensive C3 scanners. They now rightfully question the confidence the industry can place in the current EU certification system for aviation security equipment. 🖋️ Report by Thibault Krause