European Commission starts assessment of Member States’ applications to host the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority

Background and further information:

The relocation of both agencies is a direct consequence of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, as notified to the European Council on 29 March 2017. It does not form part of the Brexit negotiations and it is subject to discussion between the remaining member states of the European Union.

The criteria were set out by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk and endorsed by the European Council (in its Article 50 format) on 22 June 2017.

The Commission's assessment was scheduled to be published online on 30 September 2017, after which a political discussion is to be held at a meeting of the General Affairs Council (Article 50 format) in October 2017. A final decision on the relocation of the two agencies was set to be announced in November 2017.

The European Commission started on 1 August 2017 the assessment of applications to host the the EU's UK-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA), following the closure of the call for applications on 31 July 2017.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 31.08.17: Cost of moving EU drug agency could top €580mn https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/138845

EU: EMA: Press Release, 01.08.17: EMA prepares for Brexit http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2017/07/news_detail_002789.jsp

Politico, 08.09.17: Bidders for Brexit-exiled EU agency split along social fault lines http://www.politico.eu/article/ema-east-west-lgbt-bidders-for-brexit-exiled-eu-agency-split-along-social-fault-lines/

BBC News, 01.08.17: Irish bid for UK-based EU agencies post-Brexit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40788021

The Guardian, 31.07.17: [Editorial] The Guardian view on European agencies: lost to a myth https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/31/the-guardian-view-on-european-agencies-lost-to-a-myth

Reuters, 01.08.17: 21 EU states compete to host London-based agencies after Brexit https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-agencies-idUSKBN1AH3W7

Politico, 01.08.17: 19 countries officially apply to host the EMA; 8 chase EBA http://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-eu-agencies-ema-eba-19-countries-officially-apply/

RTÉ, 01.08.17: Government offers €10m to relocate EMA staff to Dublin https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0801/894374-ema-government-bid/

The Local.se, 01.08.17: Sweden submits official bid to take EU agency from London after Brexit https://www.thelocal.se/20170801/sweden-submits-official-bid-to-take-eu-agency-from-london-after-brexit

Luxemburger Wort, 01.08.17: Luxembourg faces seven rivals to host EBA after Brexit https://www.wort.lu/en/business/european-banking-authority-luxembourg-faces-seven-rivals-to-host-eba-after-brexit-59806013a5e74263e13c50be

The Sofia Globe, 31.07.17: Brexit: Bulgaria formally joins the race to take over the hosting of the European Medicines Agency http://sofiaglobe.com/2017/07/31/brexit-bulgaria-formally-joins-the-race-to-take-over-the-hosting-of-the-european-medicines-agency/

Cyprus Mail, 31.07.17: Small EU states losing the spoils of Brexit http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/07/31/small-eu-states-losing-spoils-brexit/

Politico, 30.07.17: Hosting the EMA: Who’s dead serious, who’s along for the ride http://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-ema-european-medicines-agency-hosting-who-is-dead-serious-and-who-along-for-the-ride/

ESO: Background information: Application period to host European Medicines Agency and European Banking Authority http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-cant-decide-how-to-relocate-agencies-marooned-by-brexit-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-eu-agencies-leaving-london-because-of-brexit/

EUObserver, 01.08.17: EU agency relocation race starts with 23 cities https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/138660

EurActiv, 01.08.17: EU states compete to host London-based agencies after Brexit http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/eu-states-compete-to-host-london-based-agencies-after-brexit/

The Guardian, 01.08.17: From slick to risible: the bids for London's EU agencies are unveiled https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/01/slick-risible-bids-london-eu-agencies-european-council

European Council: Policies: Relocation of the UK-based EU agencies http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/relocation-london-agencies-brexit/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 01.08.17: 23 cities offer to host UK-based EU agencies http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/08/01-uk-based-eu-agencies/

EUObserver, 20.09.17: Portugal not yet aboard 'Med alliance' on EU agencies https://euobserver.com/regions/139086

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