Judgment of the Court (Sixth Chamber) of 14 November 2024

1. EnvironmentPrevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien speciesRegulation No 1143/2014Obligations of the Member StatesEstablishing and implementation of action plans on pathways of invasive alien species of EU concernAction plans on pathways of introduction and spread of those speciesSubmission of those plans to the CommissionNoneFailure to fulfil obligations

(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1143/2014, Art. 13(2) and (5))

(see paragraphs 23, 25-28, 55, first indent)

2. EnvironmentPrevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien speciesRegulation No 1143/2014Obligations of the Member StatesEstablishing, or inclusion in an existing system, of a surveillance system of invasive alien species of EU concernNoneFailure to fulfil obligations

(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1143/2014, Art. 14)

(see paragraphs 50, 52-55, second indent)

Operative part

The Court:

1. Declares that, by failing to establish and implement one single action plan or a set of action plans and to transmit that or those action plans to the European Commission without delay, the Republic of Bulgaria has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 13(2) and (5) of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species;

2. Declares that, by failing to establish, or include in its existing system, a surveillance system of invasive alien species of EU concern, including all the information referred to in Article 14(2) of Regulation No 1143/2014, the Republic of Bulgaria has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 14(1) and (2) of that regulation;

3. Orders the Republic of Bulgaria to pay the costs.