No single country has all the answers when it comes to preventing drowning and improving aquatic education. That is why collaboration remains one of the most valuable tools in advancing water safety across Europe.
This spirit of cooperation will be at the heart of the Aqua Safe Kids round-table discussion during the Swim Safe Europe Conference 2026 set for Paris from August 7 to 8 which will be bringing together representatives from National Federations across Malta, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Estonia, Bulgaria and Georgia.
The session will explore how countries with different sporting structures, educational systems and aquatic traditions can learn from one another while working towards the same objective: helping more children develop the skills and confidence needed to stay safe in and around water.
Project leaders Karl Izzo and David Bonello will present the initiative alongside Dr Dajana Zoretic from the University of Zagreb, whose scientific expertise helps bridge the gap between research and practical implementation.
Rather than presenting a single model, the discussion will examine how international cooperation allows successful ideas to be adapted to different national contexts. Participants will explore how education, coach development, community engagement and evidence-based practice can work together to strengthen water safety initiatives.
The session also reflects one of the central ambitions of the Swim Safe Europe programme: creating a network in which Member Federations do not work in isolation but instead share experiences, challenges and solutions.
By encouraging dialogue between practitioners, researchers and policymakers, Aqua Safe Kids demonstrates how collective learning can accelerate progress across the continent.
As water safety becomes an increasingly important public health priority, the conference will highlight that meaningful change is often achieved not through individual projects, but through long-term partnerships built on trust, collaboration and a shared commitment to protecting future generations.
Registrations are now open through the European Aquatics Academy platform, and interested participants are encouraged to secure their place early.
The registration link via the European Aquatics – Official Learning Centre is: https://www.eaacademy.eu/lms/courses/swim-safe-europe-conference-2026
Deadline for entries is July 30.
Full details are available on the event’s information bulletin here; https://europeanaquatics.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Info_Bulletin-SSE_Annual_Conference_2026F-1.pdf
