Greece referred to ECJ for failing to take action against alien species

The European Commission decided Thursday to refer Greece and five more countries to the EU Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to implement provisions in the bloc's regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.

The five other countries referred to the ECJ are Bulgaria, Ireland, Italy, Latvia and Portugal.

Invasive alien species are plants and animals which are accidentally or deliberately introduced by man into areas out of their natural range of distribution. They can have a negative impact on biodiversity and the ecosystem of the host country, and by extension on the local communities that depend on their natural habitat. 

According to Commission data, the estimated damage caused by alien species costs the European economy 12 billion euros per year. 

The regulation - known as the Invasive Alien...