A benchmark for monitoring the continued impact of Regulation (EU) 1143/2014

Commission Implementing Regulation 2025/1422/EC added 26 invasive alien species of Union concern (IAS of UC) to the Union List set under EU Regulation 1143/2014/EC (IAS Regulation). IAS of UC are alien species whose adverse impact has been judged sufficiently severe to require coordinated action at Union level. For this purpose, high-quality, up-to-date data on the newly listed IAS of UC are essential for their management. This report presents the baseline distribution of 21 of the 26 IAS of UC that are currently present in the EU territory and to which the IAS Regulation applies. The data constitute the European-wide reference baseline. Competent Authorities from 23 EU Member States (MS) contributed to the baseline by reviewing and supplementing spatial data harvested from the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN). In addition to the spatial distribution of each IAS of UC, the report provides information on the taxo-nomic group, origin, first introduction in the EU, main pathway of introduction into the EU, habitat, and ecosystem impact. Accordingly, the pressure caused by the 21 IAS of UC on terrestrial and fresh-water ecosystems across the EU is assessed. Results show that 70% of these IAS of UC are from the Kingdom Animalia and the Classes Malacos-traca and Mammalia (33% combined). The most common primary introduction pathway for the new listed species was "Escape from confinement" (45%), often through botanical gardens, zoos, aquaria, pet trade, and ornamental purposes. Other unintentional pathways, such as "Transport - Contaminant" (18%) and "Transport - Stowaway" (13%), also played a significant role, while intentional introductions accounted for 16% of records, particularly "Other intentional release" (7%). The assessment of cumulative pressure on European ecosystems shows that urban areas are the most invaded (51%), followed by rivers and lakes (20%), forest ecosystems (18%), and agroecosys-tems (5%). The highest cumulative pressure values are found in Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as in specific regions such as Southern Sweden and Finland, and Belgium and the Netherlands. The baseline established in this report will support MS in the implementation of the IAS Regulation. It will aid the adaption of surveillance and monitoring systems, serve as an essential reference to the application of “Early detection Notifications” and inform forthcoming evaluations under the IAS Regulation. Moreover, the data provide a solid basis for fostering MS cooperation and coordination among MS, both across borders and within shared biogeographical regions.

MAGLIOZZI Chiara;  BRUGNONI Fulvio;  CARDOSO Ana Cristina; 

2026-05-21

Publications Office of the European Union

JRC146496

978-92-68-39949-1 (online),   

1831-9424 (online),   

EUR 40734,    OP KJ-01-26-233-EN-N (online),   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC146496,   

10.2760/5794871 (online),