Invasion of Vespa velutina in Spain and EU funds to combat pests
7.10.2020
Question for written answer E-005519/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Adrián Vázquez Lázara (Renew)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 lists the Asian hornet Vespa velutina subspecies Nigrithorax as an invasive alien species. It is native to south-west Asia and was reported for the first time in France in 2004 and in Spain in 2010.
According to official sources at the Regional Government of Galicia, the state enterprise Seaga removed 4 198 Vespa velutina nests in 2019 under the ‘Plan to combat Vespa velutina’.
This plan, drawn up in 2019 by the Regional Government of Galicia and FEGAMP (Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces) received EUR 2.3 million in funding through the Regional Government’s own resources and the local cooperation fund.[1]
The workers say they were responding to 15 call-outs a day on average, which rose to 250 a day in August. The current waiting time for removal of a nest is more than three months.
- 1.Can the Commission grant aid for this work under Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013?
- 2.If so, have either the Regional Government of Galicia or the Spanish Government applied for aid to control Vespa velutina?
- [1] Article 57(4) of Law 6/2019 of 23 December 2019 on the General Budget of the Autonomous Community of Galicia for the year 2020.