European Medicines Agency (EMA): location of the seat

PURPOSE: to relocate the seat of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) following the notification by the United Kingdom to the European Council of its intention to leave the Union.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2018/1718 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 amending Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 as regards the location of the seat of the European Medicines Agency.

CONTENT: this Regulation amends Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 to establish the seat of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Following the United Kingdom's notification of its intention to withdraw from the Union, the other 27 Member States, meeting on 20 November 2017 in the margins of the Council, chose Amsterdam, the Netherlands, as the new seat of the European Medicines Agency.

The competent authorities of the Netherlands shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the Agency is able to move to its temporary location no later than 1 January 2019 and that it is able to move to its permanent location no later than 16 November 2019.

They shall submit a written report to the European Parliament and the Council on the progress on the adaptations to the temporary premises and on the construction of the permanent building by 17 February 2019, and every three months thereafter, until the Agency has moved to its permanent location.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 16.11.2018.

APPLICATION: from 30.3.2019.