After first move in March 2019 to interim premises, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is preparing to move to its final premises in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. EMA Executive Director Guido Rasi signed the lease on 15 November and received the keys to the Agency's new premises.
This transfer was made necessary following Brexit and the need to repatriate all EU agencies to the territory of the Twenty-Seven (see EUROPE 11908/1, 12125/17, 12173/4).
Now that the Zuidas building has been handed over to the EMA, technical equipment will be installed, followed by computer configuration and testing. Staff should be able to move into their new offices in January 2020.
In a press release, the Agency - whose mission is to assess, supervise and monitor the safety of medicines marketed in the EU - provides details on the transition phase. For example, the Agency indicated that most staff will work remotely from December 9 to 10 January to allow equipment and furniture to be transferred to the last building. The Agency added that no meetings would be held during this period, with the exception of the EMA Board meeting on 18-19 December 2019, off-site, and the PRAC (risk assessment), HMPC (herbal medicines) and SAWP (scientific advice) meetings, the week of 13 January in the new premises. Staff will gradually move into the final premises as of 13 January. The move to the EMA building will mark the final stage of the Agency's move to the Netherlands. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)