The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE, which is a not-for-profit non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 77 member countries. In the European Union, the water quality standards are incorporated in the EC Water Framework Directive. As of 2016 Spain has had more blue flag beaches than any other country every year since the awards began in 1987.