Challenges to the European Medicine Agency
Team Leader: Haley Daniel
Research Analyst: Thurka
Key Words: BREXIT, European Medicines Agency, EMA, Pharmaceuticals, European Union
On March 29th of 2017, the European Council was publicly informed of the United Kingdom’s decision to depart from the European Union. Following the referendum in 2016, Prime Minister Theresa May prompted the departure process, scheduling the exit scheme to be complete as of the 29th of March in 2019; in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty on
The EMA’s primary role is to regulate the operations of the single market for medicines within the European Union. As of present, the EMA is based at Canary Wharf in East London, and in combination with the European Banking Authority (EBA), employs approximately 1000 people. In turn, since Britain decided it would not participate in the EU’s single market, it has been determined that the European Medicines Agency will be moved to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, while the European Banking Authority will be moving to Paris, France. Of the two institutions, the EMA has more appeal due to its great influence, in converting the host-country to a central constituent of the European medical industry.
In the uprooting of both of these institutions, the lives of 1000 of individuals will change drastically. However, not only will this influence administrative personnel at headquarters, the relocation of the EMA is predicted to impact Britain’s medical researchers profoundly. The relationship that the EMA has with the UK’s Medicines Health and Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Veterinary Medicines Department (VMD) has been tightly wound and profitable. The MHRA is responsible for regulating medicine and
Furthermore, with the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Medicines Agency, it is likely to significantly affect the drug administration process for citizens. Both the
This official decision on which EU member state will take on the European Medicines Agency has illustrated the drastic implications of ‘Brexit’ that are to take place within the next two years. There is little that can be done in order to mitigate the risks in this current political climate, as the intricacies of the post- ‘Brexit’ relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union are still in the midst of negotiation between Theresa May and EU leaders. Although the likelihood is uncertain, it is still possible for the United Kingdom to be separate from the single market and work closely with the EMA; which would be economically ideal for Britain. The details and provisions of the future UK-EU relationship in regards to medicine