The technical coordinator of LIFE Potamo Fauna, Quim Pou, was part of the meeting organized by the LIFE unit of the European Commission and the Region of Lombardy, with the support of the external team of Neemo EEIG, as part of the LIFE GESTIRE 2020 project (LIFE14 IPE IT 018). The meeting invited LIFE projects and other organizations, to share the many experiences and case studies on the subject, and to evaluate the strength and deficiencies of the LIFE program in relation to the application of the European Union regulations on invasive species and also to evaluate future challenges and opportunities. LIFE GESTIRE 2020 is a nature project designed to implement a regional strategy for the Natura 2000 Network and biodiversity in Lombardy. Among the actions aimed for improving the conservation status of protected habitats and species, the project addresses the issue of alien species through the implementation of a regional strategy on invasive species. The meeting took place at Palazzo Lombardia in Milan and hold more than 100 participants.

Among the conclusions drawn, it emphasizes strengthening LIFE as a specific program to deal with the threat of invasive species, work to ensure that the legislations of national and European institutions in this area go in the same direction, ensuring that LIFE projects are work on invasive species, include prevention and rapid response actions, as well as promoting a specific network of LIFE projects focused on invasive species at the European Union level, among others.