site.btaBulgaria Is Compliant with EU Regulation on Prevention of Invasive Species, Cabinet Argues

The Cabinet approved Bulgaria's position in case C-165/23 before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The case was brought at the request of the European Commission (EC) for Bulgaria's failure to comply with certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No. 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.

The EC argued that Bulgaria failed to establish a surveillance system of invasive alien species of Union concern. With regard to this allegation, Bulgaria presents arguments in support of the argument that the upgrading of the existing national biodiversity monitoring system has ensured the implementation of this requirement.

With regard to the second allegation of the EC, that Bulgaria failed to establish and implement an action plan or a set of action plans regarding the pathways of introduction and spread of invasive alien species, Bulgaria argues that it has implemented measures and administrative actions that have significantly limited the introduction of invasive species to the country.

The Cabinet-approved position explicitly states that Bulgaria is currently fulfilling the objectives set out in Regulation (EU) No. 1143/2014, namely the prevention, reduction and mitigation of impacts on biodiversity caused by the introduction and spread of invasive alien species on EU territory.