Helsinki is Finland’s candidate for the new seat of the European Medicines Agency

The Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs decided in its written procedure on 6 July to seek to host the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Helsinki.

Among the criteria for the relocation of the agency are easy flight connections from the capitals of all EU Member States, intercontinental flight connections, and sufficient hotel capacity for people attending meetings. The criteria also include international and multilingual schools for the children of EMA staff. These are among the reasons why Helsinki was chosen as the Finnish candidate for the new seat of EMA. The relocation application will be prepared in close cooperation with the City of Helsinki.

The decision on the relocation will be made by vote during the EU General Affairs Council in November 2017.

Inquiries: Kare Halonen, State Secretary, EU Affairs, tel. +359 295 160 319, Prime Minister's Office, Kirsi Varhila, Director-General, tel. +358 295 163 338 and Sari Vuorinen, Senior Officer, tel. +358 295 163 261, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health