EMA to relocate to Amsterdam
The EU Council vote for which city would be the new host of the EMA came down to a coin toss between Amsterdam and Milan, with Amsterdam coming out on top. In a statement, the agency welcomed the selection as Amsterdam met all of EMA and the European Commission's relocation criteria. In addition, Amsterdam was the highest rated relocation site in EMA's staff survey, which said 81% of staff would be willing to relocate to the Dutch city. Staff retention is a major issue in the bid as EMA indicated that if staffing losses dropped below 65% of current levels, there could be disruption to top priority activities such as monitoring the safety of medicines and approving new drugs (see BioCentury Extra, Sept. 26).
In a press release, EMA's Executive Director Guido Rasi said, "Amsterdam ticks many of our boxes. It offers excellent connectivity and a building that can be shaped according to our needs. I am very grateful that the Member States took into account our requirements for business continuity and gave priority to the protection of public and animal health."...