After Breixit, the European Medicines Agency, located in London, must move. Lille joins the list of candidate cities.
And why not in Lille? The city has officially applied to host the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in particular responsible for authorizing the marketing of new medicines in the European Union. As a result of Brexit, the Agency must indeed move its headquarters, located in London since its creation in 1995.
In order to continue “under good conditions” the realization of “concrete partnerships and common work necessary for the various European countries” and “particularly in view of its geographical proximity to London and its position in Europe”, Lille is a candidate to host the headquarters of this Agency, can we read in a joint press release of elected officials from the north.
Legitimate application
The signatories, Martine Aubry, Xavier Bertrand, Damien Castelain, respectively mayor (PS) of Lille, president (The Republicans) of the Hauts-de-France region, and president (without label) of the metropolis of Lille, believe that the influence of the metropolis “is recognized in terms of scientific excellence and clinical research activity”.
They highlight the presence in this territory of the Eurasanté agency, which brings together the Nutrition Santé Longevité competitiveness cluster, a bio-incubator specializing in health and the Eurasanté Park dedicated to hosting biotechnology and health activities, or even the Lille University Hospital.
According to the signatories of this press release, the 27,000 people who work in the Hauts-de-France health sector, “generating a global turnover of more than 11.5 billion euros”, make Lille ” even more so today an extremely favorable place for hosting this great institution ”that is the EMA.
Other cities in the running
At the beginning of August, the MEP The Republicans Françoise Grossetête had sent a letter proposing Lyon’s candidacy to Marisol Touraine. In Europe, several national federations of the pharmaceutical industry, such as that of Italy, but also in Sweden and Denmark, are already openly campaigning for the seat of the EMA.
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