Activities of Renate SOMMER related to 2013/0307(COD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species PDF (626 KB) DOC (727 KB)
Amendments (33)
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) Some species migrate naturally in response to environmental changes. Therefore they should not be considered as alien species in their new environment and, provided that they do not endanger existing ecosystems, are thus excluded from the scope of the new rules on invasive alien species.
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) As invasive alien species are numerous, it is important to ensure that priority is afforded to addressing the subset of invasive alien species considered to be of Union concern. A list of such invasive alien species considered to be of Union concern should therefore be drawn up. An invasive alien species should be considered of Union concern if the damage it is causing in the affected Member States is so significant that it justifies the adoption of dedicated measures the scope of which extends across the Union, including in the Member States that are not yet affected or even unlikely to be affected. In order to ensure that the subset of invasive alien species of Union concern remains proportionate, the list should be developed in line with a gradual and phased-in approach including an initial capping of the number of invasive alien species of Union concern to the top 36% of some 1500 invasive alien species in Europe and be focused on those species that cause or are likely to cause significant economic damage, including that deriving from biodiversity loss, and/or endanger human health.
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) In order to develop an adequate knowledge base to address the problems raised by invasive alien species, it is important that Member States undertake research, monitoring and surveillance of such species and exchange best-practices on the prevention and management of invasive alien species. As surveillance systems offer the most appropriate means for early detection of new invasive alien species and for the determination of the distribution of already established species, they should include both targeted and general surveys and benefit from the involvement of different sectors and stakeholders, including local communregional authorities. Surveillance systems should imply paying continuous attention to any new invasive alien species anywhere in the Union. In the interest of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, existing systems of border control, surveillance and monitoring already established in Union legislation should be applied, in particular those set out Directives 2009/147/EC, 92/43/EEC, 2008/56/EC and 2000/60/EC.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment21 establishes a framework for public consultation of relevant stakeholders in environment related decisions. In defining action in the field of invasive alien species, effective public participation should enable the publicose stakeholders to express, and the decision- maker to take account of, opinions and concerns which may be relevant to those decisions, thereby increasing the accountability and transparency of the decision-making process and contributing to public awareness of environmental issues and support for the decisions taken. __________________ 21Early and effective participation of relevant stakeholders is particularly important during the process to adopt or update the list of invasive alien species of Union concern and the establishment of action plans and measures by the Member States. __________________ 21 OJ L 156, 25.6.2003, p. 17. OJ L 156, 25.6.2003, p. 17.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 29
Recital 29
(29) In order to take into account the latest scientific developments in the environmental field, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of determining how to conclude that invasive alien species are capable of establishing viable populations and of spreading, as well as for setting out the common elements for the development of risk assessments. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level by consulting the Scientific Forum. The Commission, when preparing and drawing up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 31
Recital 31
(31) In order to enable non-commercial owners to continue keeping their companionpet animals that belong to species listed as invasive alien species of Union concern until the animal's natural death, it is necessary to provide transitional measures, onunder the condition that all measures are put in place to avoid escape or reproduction.
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 32
Recital 32
(32) In order to enable commercial operators, who may have legitimate expectations, for instance those who have received an authorisation in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 708/2007, to exhaust their stock of invasive alien species of Union concern when these new rules enter into force, it is justified to allow them two years to slaughter, sell or hand over the specimens to research or ex-situ conservation establishments.
Amendment 106 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1
Article 2 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation applies to all invasive alien species in the Union as defined in Article 3(2).
Amendment 115 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – point 1
Article 3 – point 1
(1) 'alien species' means any live specimens of species, subspecies or lower taxon of animals, plants, fungi or micro- organisms introduced outside its natural past or present distribution or which has migrated into its present distribution; it includes any part, gametes, seeds, eggs, or propagules of such species, as well as any hybrids, varieties or breeds that might survive and subsequently reproduce;
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – point 2
Article 3 – point 2
(2) ‘invasive alien species’ means an alien species whose introduction or spread has been found, through risk assessment, to threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services, and that may also have a negative impact on human health or, the economy and society at large;
Amendment 126 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – point 5
Article 3 – point 5
(5) 'ecosystem services' means the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human wellbeing;Does not affect the English version.)
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – point 7
Article 3 – point 7
(7) 'research' means descriptive or experimental work, undertaken under regulated conditions to acquire new knowledgeobtain new scientific findings or to develop new products, including the initial phases of identification, characterisation and isolation of genetic features, other than invasiveness, of invasive alien species only insofar as essential for enabling the breeding of those features into non- invasive species;
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. A list of invasive alien species of Union concern shall be adopted, and updated, by the Commission by means of implementingdelegated acts on the basis of the criteria in paragraph 2. Those implementingdelegated acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 22(2)3.
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b a (new)
(ba) they pose a significant danger to human health, the economy and the ecosystem;
Amendment 159 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. TInitially, the list referred to in paragraph 1 shall comprise a maximum of fiftyhundred species inclunotwithstanding any species which may be added as result of the emergency measures foreseen by Article 9. However, the list shall be open, constantly revised and kept up to date by the Commission according to the best available science on the threat posed by new or alien species.
Amendment 164 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) a description of its reproduction and spread patterns and dynamic including an assessment of whether the environmental conditions necessary for reproduction and spread exist;
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) a description of the negative impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including on native species, protected sites, endangered habitats, on human health and the economy including an assessment of the magnitude of future impact;
Amendment 183 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 23 to further specify the type of admissible scientific evidence referred to in Article 4(2)(b) and to provide a detailed description of the application of the elements set out in paragraph 1(a) to (h) of this Article, including the methodology to be applied in the assessment of such elements, taking into account relevant national and international standards and the need to prioritise action against species associated with or that have the potential to cause significant economic damagedamage to human health and the economy, including that deriving from biodiversity loss.
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) notwithstanding Article 8, kept or grown, including in contained holding;
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. By way of derogation from the barestrictions set out in Article 7(1), points (a), (b), (c), (e) and, (f) of Article 7(1and (g), Member States shall establish a permit system allowing establishments that are authorised to carry out research or ex-situ conservation to perform such activities on invasive alien species of Union concern. Activities involving farming of animal species shall also be allowed provided that they are covered by Directive 1998/58/EEC and Article 11 of Directive 2009/147/EC.
Amendment 205 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) they are physically isolated and they cannot escape or spread or be removed from the facilities where they are kept by unauthorised persons; cleaning, waste handling and maintenance protocols shall ensure that no specimens or reproducible parts can escape, spread or be removed by unauthorised persons;
Amendment 213 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Member States shall ensure that inspections are carried out by the competent authorities to ensure the facility’s compliance with the conditions set out for the permit issued.
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 3
Article 9 – paragraph 3
3. The Member State concerned shall carry out a risk assessment pursuant to Article 5 for the species subject to the emergency measures without delay, given the available technical and scientific information, and in any case within 124 months from the day of the adoption of the decision to introduce emergency measures, with a view to include those species on the list referred to in Article 4(1).
Amendment 222 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Amendment 254 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Member States shall introduce a notification requirement for owners of companion animals kept for non- commercial purposes which belong to one of the species included in the list drawn up pursuant to Article 4(1).
Amendment 258 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 7
Article 13 – paragraph 7
7. Based on best-practices, Member States shall develop guidelines and training programmes to facilitate the identification and detection of invasive alien species of Union concern through cooperation between all authorities involved in the verifications referred to in paragraph 2. The training programmes for custom authorities shall include information on filling the Single Administrative Document on which the customs declaration is made.
Amendment 268 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) eradication methods are not available or are available but have very serious negative impacts on human health or, the environment or other species.
Amendment 299 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – title
Article 21 – title
Public participation of relevant stakeholders
Amendment 301 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 1
Article 21 – paragraph 1
1. Where action plans are being established pursuant to Article 11 and where measures are being established pursuant to Article 17, Member States shall ensure that the public is given early and effective relevant stakeholders are provided with opportunities to participate in their preparation, modification or review using the arrangements already determined by the Member States in accordance with the second subparagraph of Article 2(3) of Directive 2003/35/EC.
Amendment 307 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 2
Article 23 – paragraph 2
2. The delegation of power referred to in Article 5(2) shall be conferred on the Commission for an undetermined period of timefive years from the entry into force of this Regulation.
Amendment 317 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. By way of derogation from to Article 7(1)(c) and (f), owners of companionpet animals not kept for commercial purposes that belong to the species included on the list referred to in Article 4(1) shall be allowed to keep them until the end of the animals' natural life, provided the following conditions are met:
Amendment 318 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) the competent authorities have been informed;
Amendment 329 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 27 – paragraph 1
Article 27 – paragraph 1
1. Keepers of a commercial stock of specimens of invasive alien species acquired before their inclusion on the list referred to in Article 4(1) shall be allowed up to two years after inclusion of the species in that list to keep and transport in order to sell or hand over live specimens or reproducible parts of those species to the farming, research or ex-situ conservation institutions referred to in Article 8, provided that the specimens are kept and transported in contained holding and all appropriate measures are put in place to ensure that reproduction or escape are not possible, or to slaughter them to exhaust their stock.