About this portal

This portal contains information related to the reporting under the EU Regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species (IAS). Information about the IAS Regulation and the policy process can be found on the European Commission's web page. The portal is maintained by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Comments and suggestions on this website should be addressed to (ias.helpdesk [add] eionet.europa.eu).

What are invasive alien species (IAS)?

Invasive alien species (IAS) are plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms whose intentional or unintentional introduction by humans and spread outside their natural past or present ranges pose a risk to biodiversity and related ecosystem services or have other unforeseen negative consequences. IAS represent one of the main global threats to biodiversity, specifically on remote islands and isolated ecosystems. It is expected that due to accelerating globalization the numbers of IAS and their impacts around the world will continue to increase.

What is reported by the Member States?

The implementing regulation specifies the technical format for the reporting pursuant to the IAS Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. The IAS report format consists of three distinct sections (A-C).

1. Section A – information on IAS of Union concern and IAS of regional concern

This section comprises 17 questions to be answered for each of the 48 species included on the Union list in force by the end of the last calendar year covered by the report, i.e. included on the Union list by 31 December 2018. Some fields of Section A should be also filled in for each of the species designated as species of regional concern by an implementing act pursuant to Article 11(2) of the IAS Regulation. As there has been no such act by 31 December 2018, the reference to species of regional concern is not relevant for the reporting period 2015-2018. The information in section A consists of:

• spatial information (inter alia a distribution map);
• tabular information and optional free text on permits, inspections of establishments, rapid eradication measures, management measures;
• optional free text information on the impact of the species.

2. Section B – information on IAS of Member State concern

3. Section C – Horizontal information

This section comprises 8 questions (all free text) with information on cross-cutting (horizontal) issues of the implementation of the IAS Regulation.