On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom (UK) notified the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the European Union (EU), a process known as ‘Brexit’. EMA is making preparations to ensure that the Agency can continue to deliver on its mission and protect public and animal health after the UK leaves the EU on 30 March 2019, the date currently set by the timeframe provided in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.

The EU 27 Member States took this decision on 20 November in the margins of the General Affairs Council (Article 50) of the European Council. 

The Agency will begin working immediately with the Dutch government to prepare for the move and take up its operations in Amsterdam on 30 March 2019 at the latest.

EMA and the Netherlands will establish a joint governance structure to steer and oversee the relocation project.

In early December 2017, the Agency will publish a monitoring chart on its website that will allow stakeholders to track progress.

Amsterdam was one of 19 offers to host EMA submitted by the Member States at the end of July 2017. For more information, see Background to relocation decision.