Abstract
In our view, the European Union's recent legislation on invasive alien species will be an effective conservation tool only if the inclusion of new species is supported by the majority of EU states. We call for Europe to put the protection of its biodiversity before the short-term economic interests of member states.
Europe is one of the world's most biologically invaded regions (M. van Kleunen et al. Nature 525, 100-103; 2015).
But the list of invasive alien species targeted for action under the January 2015 EU legislation includes just 37 entries (see go.nature.com/gigftz) - even though Europe hosts more than 1,000 such species, most of which meet the criteria for listing (M. Vila et al.
Front. Ecol.
Envir. 8, 135-144; 2010). For example, knotweed (Fallopia sp.) and American mink (Neovison vison) are well-characterized species that are responsible for extensive biodiversity losses across the continent.
We are concerned that the restricted new listing cannot hope to address the scale of biological invasions in Europe. Management must be coordinated at the EU level if both protective and preventative regulation are to be widely applicable, comprehensive and effective.