Upcoming EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species European Commission DG Environment MEETING OF THE STRATEGIC CO-ORDINATION GROUP FOR THE WFD COMMON IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY Brussels, 5 November 2014

Invasive Alien Species Transported, through deliberate or accidental human action, outside their natural range across ecological barriers Have serious negative impacts on biodiversity, as well as on human health and the economy IAS are second major cause of biodiversity loss Increasing problem

Water primroseZebra mussle Musk ratRed-eared slider

IAS Regulation Guiding principles Prioritisation proportionality Focus on prevention internationally recognised approach Use existing instrument and increase coordination recognise MS measures – balancing coordination and flexibility minimise implementation costs

Recital (6) of the Regulation To support the achievement of the objectives of Directives 2000/60/EC, 2008/56/EC and 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 92/43/EEC, this Regulation should establish rules to prevent, minimise and mitigate the adverse effects of invasive alien species on biodiversity and related ecosystem services, and on human health and safety as well as to reduce their social and economic impact.

Recital (26) of the Regulation Invasive alien species generally cause damage to ecosystems and reduce the resilience of those ecosystems. Therefore proportionate restoration measures should be undertaken to strengthen the ecosystems' resilience towards invasions, to repair the damage caused and to enhance the conservation status of species and their habitats in accordance with Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC, the ecological status of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC, and the environmental status of marine waters in accordance with Directive 2008/56/EC. The costs of such restoration measures should be recovered in accordance with the polluter pays principle.

The structure Chapter 1: General provisions Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Horizontal provisions Chapter 6: Final provisions Management of widely spread IAS Early Detection and Rapid Eradication Prevention

List of IAS of Union concern IAS of Union concern = worst species Dynamic list, developed and updated with the assistance of a Committee and a scientific forum Based on criteria and full risk assessment IAS of Union concern IAS of Regional concern IAS of Member State concern IAS

Criteria for IAS of Union concern a)Alien to the territory b)Capable of establishing and spreading c)Likely to have significant adverse impacts on biodiversity, and may also have impacts on human health and the economy d)Demonstrated by risk assessment that action at Union level is required e)Likely that inclusion in list will prevent, minimise or mitigate the adverse impacts IAS listed may be present or absent from EU

Measures on IAS of Union concern Prevention Species ban Pathway management to tackle unintentional introductions – focus on priority pathways and flexibility for Member States Border control Permits for research – managed by Member States Possible authorisations for other activities in contained holding – managed by the Commission Early detection and rapid eradication Surveillance – whole territory incl. aquatic and marine territorial waters Early detection and notification Rapid eradication Derogations possible – Commission with the Committee has the right to object Management of established IAS Flexibility for MS Choice between eradication, containment and control Animal welfare and environmental considerations

Action beyond the IAS of Union concern Emergency measures Possibility to act quickly on potentially very damaging IAS, while developing risk assessment Antechamber of EU list Fully SPS compliant Actions to tackle IAS of regional concern Provisions to foster cooperation between MS on IAS of regional concern Could be species native in one part of the EU Legal tools if voluntary cooperation does not occur Actions to tackle IAS of Member States concern MS prerogative to identify IAS problematic for their territory Action at national level to be notified to the Commission and must be compatible with the Treaty Restoration measures Proportionate restoration measures for ecosystems damaged by IAS

Horizontal provisions Cost-recovery Cooperation and coordination, including between MS that share the same river basin More stringent national rules Final provisions Reporting and review Information support system (easin.jrc.ec.europa.eu) Public participation Committee and Scientific Forum Penalties Transitional provisions

Article 22(1): Cooperation and coordination Member States shall, when complying with their obligations under this Regulation, make every effort to ensure close coordination with all Member States concerned and, where practical and appropriate, use existing structures arising from regional or international agreements. In particular, Member States concerned shall endeavour to ensure coordination with other Member States that share:(d)the same river basin in accordance with point (13) of Article 2 of Directive 2000/60/EC, regarding fresh water species

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