The European Commission proposed a new legislation this week to prevent and manage the rapidly growing threat from invasive species, in response to increasing economic and ecological consequences across Europe.

The proposal encourages a harmonized and preventive approach for member states, in the hope of increasing efficiency, lowering damage costs and prevention costs over time.

"The legislation will help protect biodiversity and allow us to focus on the most serious threats," the EU's environment commissioner Janez Potocnik said here on Monday.

There are over 12,000 species alien to the natural environment in Europe, 15 percent of which are invasive and are rapidly growing in number, according to the Commission's latest press release.

Invasive alien species cause damage worth at least 12 billion euros (about 16 billion dollars) every year in Europe, through hazards to human health, damage to infrastructure, yield losses in agriculture, among others. Those species also damage ecosystems and cause extinctions of species that are needed to maintain the balance of natural environment.

EU member states will be fully involved in compiling the target list of invasive alien species. The proposal still needs approval from the EU Council and the European Parliament.

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