Italy takes EMA relocation decision to the CJEU

Further information:

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) received a request from the Italian government, and from the city of Milan, to annul the decision to move the European Medicines Agency (EMA) from London to Amsterdam after Brexit.

+ Commission proposes legislative amendments for the relocation of the European Medicines Agency, November 2017

The legal bid was launched following reports that the agency's new headquarters in Amsterdam were not going to be ready before Brexit, forcing the agency to be relocated into temporary facilities.

Background information:

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines in the EU.

The voting was conducted in accordance with the procedure by the European Council summit in June 2017. Milan lost a tiebreak vote, carried out by the drawing of lots, against the Dutch city in November 2017 for the right to host the EMA.

+ Decision on relocation of European Medicines Agency, November 2017

Several sources pointed out that the bid was connected to the electoral debate taking place in Italy ahead of a parliamentary election.

+ Italian parliamentary election, 4 March 2018
Media reports on Italy's decision to launch a legal bid to overturn a decision to move the European Union's medicines agency (EMA) to Amsterdam following Brexit.

EurActiv, 07.02.18: Italian pharma chief: Dutch EMA bid ‘may have misled’ the Commission https://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/wed-italian-pharma-chief-the-dutch-may-have-misled-the-commission-on-ema-bid/

EUObserver, 29.01.18: New HQ of EU medicines agency opens eight months after Brexit https://euobserver.com/news/140749

Reuters, 31.01.18: EU executive rebuffs Italy's push to host drugs regulator https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1FK0V3

Politico, 14.01.18: Parliament offers Italians one last shot at winning EU drugs regulator https://www.politico.eu/article/parliament-offers-italians-one-last-shot-at-winning-eu-drugs-regulator/

The Local.it, 31.01.18: Italy asks EU court to cancel EMA move to Amsterdam https://www.thelocal.it/20180131/italy-asks-eu-court-to-quash-medicines-agency-move-to-amsterdam

EUObserver, 31.01.18: Italy restakes claim to EU agency ahead of election https://euobserver.com/institutional/140780

Euronews, 31.01.18: Brexit battles: Italy tries again for the EMA http://www.euronews.com/2018/01/31/brexit-battles-italy-tries-again-for-the-ema

EurActiv, 31.01.18: Dutch official: The EU drug agency transition has been ‘by the book’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/dutch-official-the-eu-drug-agency-transition-has-been-by-the-book/

Deutsche Welle, 31.01.18: EMA in Amsterdam: Italy to appeal EU post-Brexit plan http://p.dw.com/p/2roJv

EurActiv, 31.01.18: Italy to appeal to European court over EU drugs agency https://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/italy-to-appeal-to-european-court-over-eu-drugs-agency/

Politico, 30.01.18: Milan mayor: Italy to appeal EMA relocation https://www.politico.eu/article/milan-mayor-italy-to-appeal-ema-relocation-today/

EurActiv, 30.01.18: Italy cries foul over temporary accommodation of EU Medicines Agency https://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/italy-cries-foul-over-temporary-accommodation-of-eu-medicines-agency/

Dutchnews.nl, 30.01.18: Dutch pick up tab for EMA move as Amsterdam stretches in size https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2018/01/dutch-pick-up-tab-for-ema-move-as-amsterdam-stretches-in-size/

Reuters, 31.01.18: EU decision on EMA move to Amsterdam is done: EU Commissioner https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1FK1IG

Euro|topics, February 2018: Row over EU medicine agency https://www.eurotopics.net/en/193652/row-over-eu-medicine-agency

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