Milan is ready to host the European Medicines Agency (EMA) after its move from London in of the major opportunities opened up by Brexit.
Even if the competition will be very tough as there are many big EU cities in the running,” but we are fighting to get it for Milan” said Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano
On the day that Prime Minister Theresa May trigged Brexit, Italy presented itself to investors in London as a united country ready to collect especially the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
During the event “Italy now and next – Milan at the heart of tomorrow’s Europe: attraction, expertise” the Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, the Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala and the President of the Lombardy Region Roberto Maroni all outlined the advantages of chosing Milan as next headquarters for EMA, focusing on the higher efficiency of Milan compared to the national average, the relatively lower bureaucracy, the quality of life and its real estate offerings.
The major of Milan also outlined that the new metro line, ready in few years, will link the Linate airport with the city center in only 14 minutes.
In the document illustreted during the event it was also shown how Lombardy is one of Europe’s most competitive regions and an integral part of the “Four Motors for Europe” initiative, alongside Catalonia, Rhone Alpes and Baden Wurttemberg. Furthermore Lombardy attracts 46% of all private equity and venture capital investments in Italy and 47.5% of foreign-investee companies in Italy have their headquarters on Lombard soil . Another important data to keep in mind is Lombardy – and Milan in particular – is Italy’s financial capital and one of the most important such locations in Europe. It is home to Italy’s Stock Exchange and the headquarters of the country’s most significant financial enterprises and banks, ensuring a role of primary importance nationally and internationally.
Padoan and Alfano illustrated the reforms done in the past years, from the flat tax for those who repatriate their assets to the tax incentives to encourage researchers to return home, the Jobs Act and the progress made to improve security, the fight against Mafia and the faster judicial system.
The personalities of different political background and who represent local and central powers all agree that Milan is ready to host EMA , which will come with a large direct and indirect business turnover that will be also interesting for universities and research centers in Lombardy.
Source: Ansa, Italy Europe 24 -Sole24ore
