Invasive species cost EU €12bn per year

Alien species are invading Europe, and it is costing countries €12bn a year to fight the damage they are causing to humans, animals, the environment, agriculture, and buildings.

There are more than an estimated 12,000 animals, fish, and plants not native to Europe, developing rapidly, threatening native species and causing huge damage.

The €1.6bn a year that national governments are spending on fighting them is not managing to control the dangers and the EU wants to co-ordinate the fight across borders to control it better.