The Environment Committee of the European Parliament endorsed an EU law to protect biodiversity in the EU.
The new rules will require member states to carry out an analysis of the pathways of introduction and spread of invasive alien species (IAS) and set up surveillance systems and action plans. IAS are those plants, animals, or insects which can carry or cause diseases, harm the environment or cause economic losses from entering the European environment.
Rapporteur Pavel Poc (S&D, CZ) said about the EU law protecting biodiversity in the EU. “This is the first legislation tackling biodiversity after 20 years. We achieved a good proposal on how to tackle invasive alien species to protect biodiversity and not endanger activities of European citizens at the same time… The proposal will change during negotiations, but our red line is to ensure the feasibility of the final proposal and transparency throughout the process. Citizens and experts have to have their say when the target invasive species are defined and member states have to have the possibility to adapt the legislation for their bio-geographical conditions.” Mr Poc received a mandate to start negotiations with the Greek presidency of the Council with a view to reaching agreement at reading.
The MEPs said that IAS must be identified on a list and banned from being introduced, transported, placed on the market, offered, kept, grown or released in the environment. Moreover, the members of the Committee told European Commission not capping the list of IAS to 50 species, insisting on an open list that can include species that are native to one part of the EU but invasive in another.
The new rules will require member states to carry out an analysis of the pathways of introduction and spread of IAS and set up surveillance systems and action plans. In case of breaching the rules, EU countries will have to set appropriate penalties. However, they will be able to establish a permit system allowing specialized establishments to breed certain invasive species, provided they are of high economic, social and environmental value.
According to the European Commission, IAS are one of the major, and growing, causes of biodiversity loss and species extinction. IAS can also be vectors of diseases or directly cause health problems, moreover they can damage infrastructure and facilities, hamper forestry or cause agricultural losses.