GETTY Coypu rats and grey squirrels feature on a list of 'invasive' species

A hit list of invasive culprits Brussels never wants to darken the borders of all 28 member states has been drawn up, and with a threat to “eradicate” those who slip through. Yet any anti-EU campaigners hailing the end of the principles of free movement should take a breather. The Commission’s relates to 37 species of animals and plants that threaten Europe’s native wildlife.

Among the culprits blacklisted are the American bullfrog, slider turtle, grey squirrel, yellow legged hornet and the water hyacinth. Although there are more than 12,000 animals, plants and micro-organisms currently thriving in the EU that originated from other parts of the world, only 15 per cent are regarded as “invasive” by crowding out indigenous species and posing economic threats. It costs more than £10 billion a year to combat the damage caused to landscapes, crops and property by animals that have arrived in Europe from North America, Africa or Asia.

GETTY The American bullfrog faces eradication

The rat-like coypu from South America, for instance, can be a disaster if it burrows into flood defences. Although it was killed off in the UK after originally being introduced for the fur trade, it remains a major problem across other EU countries. By contrast, the grey squirrel has become a serious pest in Britain and a threat to our native species of red squirrel. There are fears it could be equally disastrous if its gets across the North Sea.

GETTY The slider turtle also features on the list

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Under the new European Commission regulations, there will be strict restrictions on keeping, importing, selling, breeding or growing the 37 targeted species. Member States, it says, will be required to take measures for “early detection and rapid eradication” of these species as well as managing those that have already become widely spread. Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, explained: “Some species of plants and animals can damage property, crops and livelihoods so they need to be kept out if possible and under control if not. “This needs to be done at EU level as invasive species don’t stop at borders.

GETTY Flora such as the water hyacinth are also considered a threat

“We are acting on a problem that cannot be ignored as it costs us over €12 billion every year. “This first list, generated with the help of Member States, will be kept under review and work is already ongoing currently to update the list to consider other strong cases.” Other species on the list include plants such as eastern baccharis and African curly weed as well as the Indian house crow. For leading conservation organisations such as BirdLife International, the regulations are “timid” and have overlooked other non-native animals that pose a serious threat to European wildlife.