Study on Invasive Alien Species – Development of risk assessments to tackle priority species and enhance prevention (EVINBO)

Invasive alien species (IAS) are one of the major threats to biodiversity. Regulation 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (the IAS Regulation) entered into force in January 2015. The core of the Regulation is a list of IAS of Union concern. This list is based on risk assessments. The Commission proposed a first list based on existing risk assessments, generally for IAS already present in the Union. The list of IAS of Union concern will be a dynamic list that will be updated regularly. Going forward, the Commission intends to shift the focus of its IAS policy towards more preventive action, which is much more cost-effective, and include on the Union list more species that are not yet present in the Union.

To facilitate this shift towards prevention, the Commission commissioned a horizon scanning study (ENV.B.2/ETU/2014/0016 \IAS – Prioritising prevention efforts through horizon scanning\4), which developed a framework for horizon scanning and performed a horizon scanning exercise to identify priority species to be risk assessed, with a view to evaluate whether they should be considered species of Union concern. The proposed study will build on this work, although it should not limit itself to the species addressed by the previous study. It will seek to perform the most urgent risk assessments for species representing an important threat for the EU, ensuring that such risk assessments meet the requirements of the IAS Regulation (Article 5(1)), as well as the minimum standards developed through study ENV.B.2/ETU/2013/0026 \Invasive Alien Species - Framework for the identification of invasive alien species of EU concern\.

The study will develop new risk assessments of priority species identified inter alia through the horizon scanning study, with the potential of being highly invasive in the EU and that should be addressed through the IAS Regulation.

​Task 1 – Maintain the template for the risk assessments up to date and fit for purpose on the basis of experience gained
Task 2 – Develop the list of species to be risk assessed ​
Task 3 – Prepare the risk assessments
Task 4 – Collect evidence on management techniques, implementation costs and cost-effectiveness