EU can’t decide how to relocate agencies marooned by Brexit / Everything you need to know about the EU agencies leaving London because of Brexit

At the General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on the 20 June 2017 and subsequently endorsed by the European Council in Brussels on the 22 June 2017 EU27 leaders endorsed the procedural arrangements for the relocation of the EU agencies currently located in the UK - the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority.

The closing date for countries to submit bids to host one or both of the agencies was the 31 July 2017.

Commentators noted that the decision would be as much political as procedural.

The General Affairs Council would make a final decision on new host countries in November 2017.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU agencies: a Brexit loss nobody’s talking about http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-agencies-a-brexit-loss-nobodys-talking-about/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Italy and Spain lead the fight to conquer UK-based EU agencies http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-and-spain-lead-the-fight-to-conquer-uk-based-eu-agencies/

EUObserver, 20.06.17: EU agencies relocation could still end in political bargaining https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/138288

BBC News, 19.04.17: EU agencies to leave London after Brexit, says Commission http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39640508

EurActiv, 21.06.17: Relocation of UK agencies to be decided by Eurovision-style vote http://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/relocation-of-uk-agencies-to-be-decided-by-eurovision-style-vote/

The Guardian, 22.06.17: EU countries compete to host London-based agencies after Brexit https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/22/eu-countries-compete-to-host-london-based-agencies-after-brexit

EurActiv, 23.06.17: Politics get final say on post-Brexit agency seats http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/politics-get-final-say-on-post-brexit-agency-seats/

EUObserver, 23.06.17: Decision on post-Brexit home for EU agencies postponed https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/138328

Politico, 23.06.17: EU pushes back decision on agencies to November http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-pushes-back-decision-on-agencies-to-november/

The Guardian, 10.07.17: Pharma firms and consumer groups united over EMA relocation http://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/patients-should-be-top-priority-in-eu-drug-agency-relocation/

EurActiv, 05.07.17: Special Report: European Medicines Agency: What’s at stake? http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/special_report/european-medicines-agency-whats-at-stake/

EUObserver, 11.07.17: Dutch offer €250mn office for EU medicines agency https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/138489

EUObserver, 14.07.17: Relocation of EU agencies could save money https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/138539

Politico, 30.07.17: Everything you need to know about the EU agencies leaving London because of Brexit http://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-ema-eba-european-banking-authority-european-medicines-agency-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-eu-agencies-leaving-london-because-of-brexit/

BBC News, 31.07.17: Brexit: Race to host EU agencies relocated from London http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40772332

Politico, 28-30.07.17: Portuguese politics cripples EU agency bid http://www.politico.eu/article/to-placate-porto-portugal-pulls-plug-on-lisbons-bid-for-ema/

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2017: Where will the EMA set up shop? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/182795/where-will-the-ema-set-up-shop

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