DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

1 June 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Amsterdam a favourite among EMA staff, but the ‘offer has weaknesses’

October 1, 2017

Workers at the European Medicines Agency in London would be happiest with a move to Amsterdam, Barcelona or Vienna when the organisation leaves post Brexit Britain, according to new agency Reuters.

A survey of agency staff shows that up to 70% would leave if the EMA goes to an unpopular choice among the 19 cities competing to host the organisation. The survey was published without naming the cities but according to Reuters, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Vienna top the list, followed by Milan and Copenhagen.

The decision on where to place the agency will be discussed at this month’s EU summit and finalised in November.

The EMA warned that only the five of the 19 candidate cities would allow it to maintain key functions and that even then it will take three years to recover from the disruption.

However, it has also emerged that a weakness of the Dutch bid is the need to house most of its operations in temporary offices while a purpose-built building in Amsterdam’s Zuidas business district is completed.

According to the Financieele Dagblad, the European Commission says that ‘moving to a temporary address may be less desirable for accommodating the EMA than a move to a permanent address’. DutchNews.nl has been unable to verify this statement.

Childcare

The Commission assessment does state the Dutch offer does not contain enough information about security considerations and IT services as well as about daycare and schooling for staff children.

The Netherlands already hosts two European institutions – Europol and Eurojust.

The Dutch government has offered an €18m sweetener and a full relocation package for the agency’s 900 staff as well as a purpose-built office complex as part of its efforts to attract the the EMA.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Europe
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch government websites still reliant on US cloud services
Ni hao! Amsterdam educational book sparks racism complaints
Artist Bas Kosters on the serious business of creating joy
Warm end to May, slightly cooler start to meteorological summer
From rooftops to refugee artists: 11 great things to do in June
NewsHomeEconomyArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now