Since ancient times, man has deliberately or accidentally transported plants and animals across biogeographical barriers and into areas outside their natural range. Such introduced species are considered "alien" or "non-native" to the new receiving environment. Species that rapidly spread and grow in distribution and abundance, following introduction, are termed "invasive". Not all alien species turn out to be invasive as this depends on the characteristics of the species and its new environment. Out of the 10,822 alien species introduced in Europe, some 10 to 15 per cent are deemed potentially harmful to European Biodiversity. (Source: Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe - www.europe-aliens.org)

The rate of new introductions of alien species, and potentially invasive species, has increased considerably over the years, along with similar trends in trade, transport and tourism across borders and, overall globalisation. Invasive alien species are a major direct driver of biodiversity loss worldwide. Invasive species cause significant social, economic and environmental impacts by, for instance, harming human health (e.g. through allergies), adversely affecting the productivity of sectors such as agriculture (e.g. alien insect pests damaging food crops) and/or by competing with, and displacing native species. The European Union today spends at least €12 billion a year on control and on damage caused by invasive species. (Source: EU Factsheet on Invasive Alien Species, May 2009)

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