On November 20, 2017, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that it will relocate to Amsterdam in the Netherlands1. This decision was taken by the European Union (EU 27) Member States in the margins of the General Affairs Council (Art.50). The Agency now has just over 16 months to prepare for the move and start its operations from Amsterdam latest by March 30, 2019.
EMA must relocate due to the United Kingdom's decision to withdraw from the EU. Amsterdam was one of 19 cities from Member States who submitted an offer at the end of July 2017, to host EMA. The decision on EMA's new location follows an assessment of the bids by the European Commission and EMA. The decision marks the official start of a challenging joint relocation project that will have to be delivered within extremely tight timelines whereby the relocation has to be completed by March 30, 2019.
Effective collaboration between EMA and the Netherlands, on the basis of the commitments made in its offer to host EMA, is essential to ensure a successful move and the continuation of EMA's operations with minimal disruption.
EMA and the Netherlands will kick start their collaboration by establishing a joint governance structure to oversee and steer the relocation project. Because of its important role to safeguard public and animal health in the EU, EMA is committed to giving stakeholders and the public full visibility of the relocation project. In early December, the Agency will make available a monitoring chart on its website that will allow tracking of the progress made. About European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Founded in 1995, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines in the EU. It currently employs nearly 900 staff members at its Headquarters in Canary Wharf, London. EMA is essential to the functioning of the single market for medicines in the EU.
Concretely, the main tasks of the EMA include:
- To facilitate development and access to medicines,
- To evaluate applications for marketing authorization,
- To monitor the safety of medicines across their lifecycle,
- To provide information to healthcare professionals and patients.
Footnote
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