Romania will submit its candidacy to host the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Bucharest, said yesterday Ana Birchall, Minister Delegate for European Affairs.

The Government approved a memorandum on this topic yesterday.

EMA is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the EU.

The agency is currently headquartered in London. UK is expected to announce its decision to leave the EU next week and several EU agencies headquartered in London will need to relocate, Ana Birchall explained.

Romania currently doesn’t host any EU agency, she added. Hosting a European agency would increase the country’s visibility, would create jobs, and boost investments.

The minister said that Romania has over 20 competitors in hosting EMA.

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