The Bern Convention has pioneered inter-governmental cooperation towards controlling the spread of and eradicating Invasive Alien Species in Europe through the creation of a dedicated Group of Experts, already back in 1992. It later developed and adopted the European Strategy on the eradication of IAS and regularly monitors its implementation, in particular through its Group of Experts. The 13th meeting of the Group of Experts took place in Batumi on 24-25 June 2019 and reviewed progress in implementation of the European Strategy on IAS and the level of implementation of Bern Convention guidance (Codes on Conduct) focussing on different pathways for the spread of the species. It furthered allow for the exchange of good practices and lessons learned in the implementation of IAS control measures at national level and discussed new proposed guidance documents on IAS and e-commerce and on communicating on IAS.

The meeting was kindly hosted by the Georgian national authorities. It was followed by a field visit to Mtirala National Park. It gathered representatives of national authorities, national scientific experts on IAS, representatives of partners institutions/organisations and NGOs to the Convention.

More information on the webpage of the meeting.