Commissioner Roswall, in a written answer to MEPs Benoit Cassart and Olivier Chastel (both Renew), detailed existing EU mechanisms to tackle the invasive Asian hornet but acknowledged the Commission does not track how much Member States spend on prevention and destruction under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The answer, published on 24 April 2026, points to the Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Regulation as the main legal framework, requiring Member States to notify new introductions and spread via the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN). The Commission encourages cross-border cooperation through shared baselines and can provide support upon request. Guidance on managing pathways of invasive wasps was issued in 2021, and surveillance guidance followed in 2024.
Under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plans, Member States can fund actions against the Asian hornet through apiculture interventions targeting bee pests and diseases, as well as rural development measures to restore production potential after natural disasters. However, the Commission lacks data on actual spending, as these actions are often bundled into broader interventions with common budgetary allocations.
The answer confirms the Commission's reliance on existing tools rather than proposing new legislation or dedicated funding. The MEPs had highlighted the hornet's exponential spread—each undestroyed nest can create 10 to 50 new nests per year—and its threat to pollinators, public health, and agriculture, with crop losses estimated at 5-25%.
The Commission favours a framework-based approach, providing guidance and data-sharing platforms but leaving implementation and funding to Member States. No new EU-level coordination mechanism or specific budget is announced.
The Commission may continue to update guidance and support EASIN, but any further action depends on Member State requests or future revisions of the IAS Regulation or CAP.
- Beekeepers and farmers: Benefit from existing CAP support but face uncertainty over national funding levels and coordination across borders. - National authorities: Retain flexibility in spending but lack EU-level data to benchmark efforts; cross-border cooperation remains voluntary. - EU regulatory bodies: Maintain oversight via EASIN but have limited leverage to enforce coordinated action. - Agricultural sector: Crop pollination-dependent sectors (e.g., fruit growers) remain exposed to hornet damage without targeted EU intervention.