Lille was chosen to represent the candidacy of France, to host the European Medicines Agency based in London.
It will be Lille. The French government has decided to present the city’s candidacy to host the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which will move in the wake of Brexit. This Wednesday, Bernard Cazeneuve announced his choice in a press release.
“In view of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), currently based in London, will have to be relocated within a member state of the European Union”, explains the Prime Minister.
8 candidate cities
Eight French cities applied: Lens-Liévin, Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Nice, Paris Sud-Villejuif, Strasbourg and Toulouse. Their files were examined by a committee responsible for identifying the territory offering “to France, in the forthcoming negotiations with the other Member States, the best chances of success”, specifies the text.
The choice finally fell on Lille, because of its “ideal position at the heart of Europe” and by the fact that “France has an exceptional health ecosystem (research, innovation, industry), including Lille. is one of the major poles ”.
Industrial asset
The PS mayor of Lille, Martine Aubry, immediately welcomed this decision in a press release. “This choice makes me all the more happy because it is recognition of the many assets of our city and of our European-scale metropolis, in terms of research, innovation and health industry”, we can read.
The French pharmaceutical industry, represented by Leem, joined in these statements of enthusiasm. The establishment of the EMA in Lille “would strengthen the position of France in the field of health and more particularly drugs”, writes the union in a press release.
“Expert path”
“The arrival of the EMA – and its 900 employees – in France would be a source of dynamism and international scientific influence for the country because the agency would draw in its wake many international scientific experts, as well as a large number highly qualified European officials ”, rejoices Leem, who says he is“ ready to work with the French government and the European institutions to effectively carry this candidacy ”.
The EMA (European Medicines Agency) is responsible for evaluating health products (drugs, medical devices) and issuing their authorization for placing on the European market – in France, its equivalent is the ANSM (Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Medication).
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