Bonn is applying to be the new headquarters of the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
7 August 2017. With the theme "Closer to Europe", the Federal City of Bonn is applying to the European Union (EU) to become the new headquarters of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The former Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia and former Federal Minister of Economics and Labour, Wolfgang Clement, will be soliciting support for Germany’s candidacy as the Special Commissioner of the Federal Minister of Health.
Please click on the picture to watch the video presentation for the EMA application (you will be forwarded to the website closer-to-europe.eu).
The European Medicines Agency has developed into a guardian of medication safety, and thus also of patient safety within the EU. Despite its necessary relocation, the Agency must be in a position to seamlessly continue its important work for the benefit and the protection of EU citizens. In the marketing authorisation procedure, the EMA relies on close corporation with the national licensing authorities. With the internationally renowned Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices in Bonn, the Paul Ehrlich Institute in Langen, near Frankfurt am Main, and the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care in Cologne, if it relocates to Germany, the EMA would have concentrated expertise and strong national partners it can rely on, all in close proximity. Bonn's pre-eminent scientific and economic environment makes it a prime location for the European Medicines Agency.
As a strong health and pharmaceutical location, situated at the centre of the European Rhine Region and at the heart of Europe, Bonn fulfils all of the prerequisites for the EMA to continue its work seamlessly and successfully. Bonn has a selection of excellent office locations to offer that can be tailored to match the EMA’s specific requirements, in terms of space and technical equipment, and enable a smooth relocation.
As one of the EU’s prime licensing authorities, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) already provides first-rate support to the EMA in the field of medication approval and safety. The same goes for our second national licensing authority, the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) in Langen near Frankfurt. Both institutes contribute their expertise to approx. 130 of the EMA’s scientific bodies. With the Cologne-based Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG) - as the most important institute in Europe for the evidence-based assessment of medicinal products - the EMA can count on another highly-qualified partner in close proximity.
Good transport connections by plane, rail and car to neighbouring European countries, and excellent international connections make this city easy to reach and afford employees the greatest possible flexibility. International companies already use Bonn as a strong central location in the middle of Europe. Bonn is a cosmopolitan and international city.
Short distances within the city itself, a well-positioned labour market, inexpensive housing by European comparison, international schools and kindergartens, a wealth of recreational and cultural opportunities close by, provide optimal prerequisites for EMA employees and their families.
Great Britain's decision to leave the European Union means that a new location must be found for the EMA, which currently has its headquarters in London. The official deadline for applications was 31st July 2017. The decision regarding the EMA's future location is expected to be made by the General Affairs Council in November. In the months to come, the Federal Government is going to have relevant talks and discussions in Brussels, pitching Bonn as the ideal location of the EMA.
The new Special Commissioner for Germany’s EMA candidacy, Wolfgang Clement, was Minister President of the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1998 to 2002 and Federal Minister of Economics and Labour from 2002 to 2005. He lives in Bonn.