1. EU strategy on invasive alien species
Progress report on the
European work toward a
EU strategy on invasive alien species
Piero Genovesi
Co-ordination Group for Biodiversity and Nature
6th meeting
Brussels, 16 October 2009

2. EU decisions and commitments
Communication on Biodiversity, May 2006:
“Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and beyond”
IAS as key priority area of “EU Action Plan to 2010 and beyond”
Objective 5: To substantially reduce the impact of invasive alien species and alien genotypes
4 actions required in Action Programme:
to assess gaps and develop an EU strategy to address IAS
Member States to develop national strategies
Member States ratification of Ballast Water Convention
to establish an early warning system
6th meeting CGBN

3. EU decisions and commitments
Communication on Biodiversity, November 2008: "Towards an EU Strategy on Invasive Species"
Proposes 4 options
A) Business as usual
B) Maximising the use of existing legal instruments together with voluntary measures
B+) Adapted existing legislation
C) Comprehensive, dedicated EU legal instrument
EU Strategy established by 2010
In the meantime, EC will examine the possibility of setting up an Early Warning and Information System
6th meeting CGBN

4. Results of EU-funded programs
In last 15 years, EU funded - through LIFE and RTD - over 300 projects, for a total budget > € 132 millions.
These programs have permitted to:
Identify trends of invasions
Establish reference lists of invasive alien species
Identify correlates of invasions, major pathways, etc
Develop assisted procedures to assess risks
Improve management techniques
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5. Results of EC funded assessments
“Scope option for EU action on invasive alien species” (IEEP 2006):
Assessed EC legal and policy framework
Identified gaps
Proposed changes and options for future work
“Technical support to EU strategy on IAS” (IEEP 2009)
Estimates costs of IAS in Europe (> € 12 bln/yr)
Identifies policy options
Discusses costs/benefits of the options
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6. Examples of work done by Member States
20 states or regions are included in the NOBANIS network, an information platform on IS
GB Non-native Species Board and Secretariat have developed:
thematic portal
risk assessment protocols
national inventory of IS, with list of regulated species
Italian Min. Environment has committed to support ISSG Global Invasive Species Database, that will soon be hosted at the Institute for Environmental Research and Protection
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7. Work done by EEA
EEA commissioned a feasibility study for developing a European Early Warning and Rapid Response framework
Results of the study indicate that:
Europe has an adequate basis of data and tools to support an EWRR
The costs to develop an European EWRR may range from € 500,000 to 6,000,000
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8. Opinions by other bodies
48. considers that only a European level strategy for combating invasive species can hope to be effective
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9. Opinions by other bodies
6.2.2 The Committee is convinced that the best way to tackle the threat of IS would be through the adoption of a comprehensive, dedicated EU legal instrument as well as the establishment of a new European Agency.
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10. G8 Environment: Carta di Siracusa
“…. Among the priority actions to implement are early warning and rapid response”
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11. EU Council Conclusions 25th June 2009
Urgent need for an EU strategy on invasive alien species, based on CBD guiding principles, Bern “European Strategy on IAS”, Plant Health framework
Cooperation of all MS and the EC in addressing IAS issues, and to develop jointly an information system for early warning and rapid response
6th meeting CGBN