Commission’s assessment summary: Finland is well equipped for EMA’s relocation to Helsinki
“The Commission’s assessment summary confirms that Helsinki meets the key criteria and offers an excellent location for the European Medicines Agency,” Minister of Social Affairs and Health Pirkko Mattila said with a smile.
The European Commission has today published its assessment summaries of the offers submitted by Member States to host the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The criteria for the relocation include, for example, immediate readiness to provide the necessary premises, accessibility of the location of the host city and EMA office, and ability to offer high quality education to the children of the EMA staff and ensure business continuity.
Finland is offering a cost-effective, logistically functional and smooth solution to relocate EMA to Helsinki. Finland has received positive feedback for its proposal on how to address the challenges of medicine safety brought about by EMA’s relocation.
“Many find that one of our strengths is also the location of the European Chemicals Agency in Helsinki. If hosted by the same city, the two agencies could create considerable synergies,” Minister Mattila says.
In addition to Finland, 18 EU Member States are seeking to host the European Medicines Agency, to be relocated from London. EMA is one of the European Union’s largest and strategically most important agencies.
According to Minister Mattila, Finland will continue its intensive campaigning and promotion of the application among the Member States. The Commission’s assessment provides background information to the Member States and their Ministers responsible for European Affairs who will vote on EMA’s new location at the General Affairs Council on 20 November.
Inquiries:
Kari Synberg, Special Adviser to the Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 50 574 2297, firstname.lastname@stm.fi
Pasi Mustonen, Senior Specialist, Finland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union, tel. +32 470 201 256, firstname.lastname@formin.fi
Twitter: #emahelsinki