Brussels, 16/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - In the final lap of this European Parliament, MEPs paved the way on Wednesday 16 April for boosting the fight and ensuring better coordination to stamp out invasive alien species in the European Union.
By a wide majority of 606 votes to 36 and 4 abstentions, the MEPs enshrined an informal agreement with the EU Council of Ministers on how to tackle a scourge that causes damage estimated at more than €12 billion in Europe every year (see EUROPE 11043), thus enabling the Council of Ministers to adopt a new regulation on prevention and managing the introduction and propagation in the EU of invasive alien species through coordinated action plans. Rapporteur Pavel Poc (S&D, Czech Republic) welcomed the outcome of the vote. (AN)