Brexit: No decision yet on location of EU agencies

LONDON: The future location of the two European Union agencies based in London will be a matter for Brexit negotiations, the British government’s Brexit department said on Monday, but EU officials said there was no doubt they would be moved.

London is home to both the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA), and last month the EU’s draft plan for negotiations said arrangements should be made to transfer them to a state staying in the EU.

EU officials said European Council President Donald Tusk, who chairs summits of the 27 other EU leaders who will decide where to put the agencies, aimed to set out some procedures for making the choices by the time they meet next on April 29.

A spokeswoman for the British Brexit department said in a statement: “No decisions have been taken about the location of the European Banking Authority or the European Medicines Agency, these will be subject to the exit negotiations.”

“As part of these negotiations the government will discuss with the EU and member states how best to continue cooperation in the fields of banking and medicines regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU. It would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of the negotiations.”

Yet EU officials say there is no question of Britain keeping the EMA and EBA, whatever ties it may keep with the agencies; Only member states could accommodate them, one said, adding: “The agencies are lost. You cannot have your cake and eat it.”

Earlier this month, the EMA’s executive director said it was preparing to pack its bags and relocate and called for a quick decision on the agency’s new home.