Baseline distribution of invasive alien species added to the Union list by Comm. Impl. Reg. (EU) 2022/1203

This report provides the baseline distribution of 13 IAS of UC out of 22 added to the Union list, which are currently present in the EU territory and to which the IAS Regulation applies. This data constitutes the reference baseline at European level. 18 EU Member States (MS) Competent Authorities contributed to the definition of the baseline by revising and supplementing spatial data harvested from the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN).\nResults show that 77% of the IAS of UC are from the Kingdom Animalia and the Infraclass Teleostei (31%). 50% of freshwater and terrestrial IAS of UC were introduced in Europe through the primary pathway “Escape from confinement” and 20% by intentional introductions: “Biological control” (10 %) or “Other intentional release” (10%). The highest number of the established 13 IAS of UC covered by this report is in France and Spain, i.e., 8 and 7 respectively, and the lowest in Denmark, Luxemburg, Sweden and Slovakia. Six species are more frequent across EU: Ameiurus melas, Gambusia holbrooki, Koenigia polystachya, and Gambusia affinis. Croplands ecosystems show the highest percentage of invaded area and the highest average of cumulative pressure by IAS of UC, suggesting negative impacts on agroecosystems. On the opposite side, the lowest pressure is recorded in grassland areas.\nThis baseline will support MS in the implementation of the EU Regulation on IAS and help adapting the surveillance and monitoring systems to the application of “Early detection Notifications”.