15.5.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 173/25

(Case C-172/23)

(2023/C 173/35)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: European Commission (represented by: C. Hermes and E. Sanfrutos Cano, Agents)

Defendant: Ireland

The applicant claims that the Court should:

—declare that Ireland 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 (1) by failing to establish and implement action plans for all identified priority pathways and to transmit them to the Commission without delay;

—order Ireland to pay the costs.

Pleas in law and main arguments

According to Article 13(2) and (5) of Regulation 1143/2014, Ireland had three years from the adoption of the Union list to establish, implement and transmit to the Commission action plans to address the priority pathways of unintentional introduction and spread of invasive alien species of Union concern identified pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation 1143/2014. The Commission had adopted the Union list referred to in Article 13 of Regulation 1143/2014 on 13 July 2016 so that the three years deadline expired on 13 July 2019.

Ireland identified three priority pathways (angling, recreational boating and transportation of habitat material) pursuant to Article 13(1) of the Regulation.

However, Ireland has established and transmitted to the Commission action plans for only two out of the three identified priority pathways.

(1) OJ 2014 L 317, p. 35.