12% of EU population reported pollution in their area
In 2023, 12.2% of the EU population reported that pollution, grime or environmental issues affected their household, a decrease from 15.1% in 2019.
Malta had the highest share of population reporting such problems (34.7%), followed by Greece (20.5%) and Germany (16.8%).
By contrast, Croatia reported the lowest share (4.2%), ahead of Sweden (5.0%) and Slovakia (5.8%).
At EU level, exposure to pollution, grime or other environmental problems increased with the degree of urbanisation. While 6.8% of people living in rural areas were affected, this share was 10.5% in town and suburbs and 17.2% in cities.
The data presented in this article comes from 'Labour market and housing conditions’ module, collected every 3 years as part of EU statistics on income and living conditions.
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Georgia’s US Ambassador features at high-level State Department reception
19.09.2025.17:00
At the invitation of the US Secretary of State, Tamar Taliashvili, Georgia’s Ambassador to the United States, attended a reception at the State Department.
The event was hosted by Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas in the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room and brought together high-ranking officials from the Trump Administration and the Department of State, alongside spiritual leaders and members of the diplomatic corps.
Among the attendees was Vicky Hartzler, the newly appointed Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. During discussions with Chair Hartzler, Ambassador Taliashvili highlighted the importance of strengthening future cooperation.
The reception was held in honour of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, recognising his contributions to interfaith dialogue and international religious freedom.
