EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 9.9.2013 SWD(2013)
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 9.9.2013 SWD(2013) 321 final COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT Accompanying the document Proposal for a Council and European Parliament Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species This report commits only the Commission's services involved in its preparation and does not prejudge the final form of any decision to be taken by the Commission {COM(2013) 620 final} {SWD(2013) 322 final} {SWD(2013) 323 final} EN EN COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT Accompanying the document Proposal for a Council and European Parliament Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species This report commits only the Commission's services involved in its preparation and does not prejudge the final form of any decision to be taken by the Commission Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 4 2. PROCEDURAL ISSUES AND CONSULTATIONS ............................................................................... 5 2.1. PROCEDURAL ISSUES ............................................................................................................................ 5 2.2. CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES.............................................................................................. 5 2.3. EXTERNAL EXPERTISE........................................................................................................................... 5 2.4. CONSULTATION OF THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT BOARD ......................................................................... 6 3. POLICY CONTEXT, PROBLEM DEFINITION AND SUBSIDIARITY ............................................ 6 3.1. PROBLEM DEFINITION ........................................................................................................................... 6 3.1.1. An ecological problem .................................................................................................................... 7 3.1.2. A policy problem ........................................................................................................................... 11 3.2. WHO IS AFFECTED AND HOW?............................................................................................................. 12 3.3. POLICY BASELINE ............................................................................................................................... 14 3.4. HOW WILL THE PROBLEM EVOLVE? .................................................................................................... 17 3.5. THE EU'S RIGHT TO ACT AND JUSTIFICATION ...................................................................................... 19 3.5.1. The legal basis for action.............................................................................................................. 19 3.5.2. Promoting solidarity ..................................................................................................................... 20 3.5.3. Subsidiarity ................................................................................................................................... 20 4. OBJECTIVES............................................................................................................................................ 21 5. DESCRIPTION OF POLICY OPTIONS................................................................................................ 22 5.1. OPTION 0 - BUSINESS AS USUAL (BASELINE OPTION).......................................................................... 22 5.2. OPTION 1 – ENHANCING COOPERATION AND SUPPORTING VOLUNTARY ACTION................................. 24 5.3. OPTION 2 – A DEDICATED LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT ........................................................................ 24 5.3.1. Option 2.1: the basic legislative instrument.................................................................................. 27 5.3.2. Option 2.2: introducing provisions on permits for the release of IAS of Member State concern (i.e. basic legislative instrument with the addition of action C2) ....................................................................... 29 5.3.3. Option 2.3: introducing a strict ban on the release of any alien species, unless included on an EU list of IAS approved for release (i.e. basic legislative instrument with the addition of action C3).............. 30 5.3.4. Option 2.4: introducing an obligation for rapid eradication of newly establishing IAS of EU concern, with the possibility for derogations (i.e. basic legislative instrument with alternative action D3)30 6. ANALYSIS OF THE OPTIONS .............................................................................................................. 32 6.1. ECONOMIC IMPACTS ........................................................................................................................... 33 6.1.1. Option 0: Baseline......................................................................................................................... 33 6.1.2. Option 1: Cooperation and voluntary action ................................................................................ 34 6.1.3. Option 2.1: the basic legislative instrument.................................................................................. 35 6.1.4. Option 2.2: Adding permits for releasing of IAS of Member State concern.................................. 43 6.1.5. Option 2.3: Include a strict ban on release of any alien species into the environment unless it is included in a common EU list of species approved for release into the environment ................................. 45 6.1.6. Option 2.4: Obligation to rapidly eradicate newly establishing IAS of EU concern .................... 45 6.2. SOCIAL IMPACTS................................................................................................................................. 48 6.2.1. Option 0: Baseline......................................................................................................................... 48 6.2.2. Option 1: Cooperation and voluntary action ................................................................................ 48 6.2.3. Option 2.1: The basic legislative instrument................................................................................. 48 6.2.4. Option 2.2: Adding permits for releasing of IAS of Member State concern.................................. 48 6.2.5. Option 2.3: Introducing a strict ban for any release of any alien species unless included in the EU list of species approved for release into the environment ..................................................................... 48 6.2.6. Option 2.4: Obligation for rapid eradication of newly establishing IAS of EU concern .............. 48 6.3. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS................................................................................................................. 48 6.3.1. Option 0: Baseline......................................................................................................................... 48 6.3.2. Option 1: Voluntary action ........................................................................................................... 48 6.3.3. Option 2.1: The basic legislative instrument................................................................................. 48 6.3.4. Option 2.2: Adding permits for releasing of IAS of Member State concern included in national catalogues.................................................................................................................................................... 48 3 6.3.5. Option 2.3: Introducing a strict ban for any release of any alien species unless included in the EU list of species approved for release into the environment............................................................................ 48 6.3.6. Option 2.4: Obligation for rapid eradication of newly establishing IAS of EU concern .............. 48 7. COMPARING THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS ....................................................................................... 48 8. MONITORING AND EVALUATION.................................................................................................... 48 8.1. PROGRESS INDICATORS....................................................................................................................... 48 8.2. MONITORING ...................................................................................................................................... 48 8.3. EVALUATION ...................................................................................................................................... 48 4 1. INTRODUCTION Alien species are species that are transported, outside of their natural range across ecological barriers, due to direct or indirect human action. Some of these species cannot adapt to the new environment and die out quite rapidly, but others may survive, reproduce and spread. A percentage of the species that become established can have a significant negative impact on the ecology of their new location as well as serious economic and social consequences: these are the Invasive Alien Species (IAS). It has been estimated that of the 12,046 alien species present in the European environment1, 10-15 % have reproduced and spread and cause environmental, economic and/or social damage2. IAS have