Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni on
Thursday named former European affairs minister Enzo Moavero
Milanesi his new advisor to promote the transfer to Milan of the
London-based European Medicines Agency (EMA) once Brexit is
complete, the premier's office said.
Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano told a forum on post-Brexit
opportunities at Bloomberg in London last month that Milan is
ready to host the EMA as well as "whole business districts" that
may move from from London.
Alfano was in the British capital on the day Brexit talks
were triggered on March 29 along with Economy Minister Pier
Carlo Padoan, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala and Lombardy Governor
Roberto Maroni.
Padoan, for his part, stressed what a safe environment Italy
offered for investments leaving London.
Milan is "more than ready" to host the EMA after its move
from London in one of the major opportunities opened up by
Brexit, Alfano stressed.
He said the competition "will be very tough because there are
at least a dozen big EU cities in the running, but we are
fighting to get it for Milan".
The EMA, which controls pharmaceuticals standards and norms
across Europe, has been in London for 20 years.
Sala, the mayor, said "we can play our cards on the EMA".
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