site.btaSofia Bids to Host European Medicines Agency

Sofia, July 31 (BTA) - The Bulgarian government announced Monday that it has placed a bid for hosting the headquarters of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). "This decision reflects Bulgaria's commitment to the common European values and founding principles, as well as the will of this country to continue to contribute constructively to attaining the goals of the European policies, including those in public health," reads an official letter from Prime Minister Boyko Borissov to European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

The letter points out the Bulgarian advantages as a location of the EMA headquarters: good economic and social outlook, stable economic development, quickly developing labour market and strong pro-European attitudes. The reasoning to the bid highlights the fast growth of the IT sector in Bulgaria and says that if Sofia is picked for the EMA headquarters, it will be made an integral part of the it-tech environment of the Sofia Tech Park.

Also, Bulgaria has strong traditions and expertise in the pharmaceutical and the health care sector, as well as in medical education. It has made a commitment to encourage research and innovation in these areas, which is a further argument in favour of the Bulgarian bid, the letter says.

Borissov argues that picking Sofia for the EMA headquarters "will strengthen the positive image of the EU as a Union of justice, solidarity and a commitment to cohesion".

EMA is currently based in London and will have to move in the wake of the Brexit.

The European Commission is expected to review the bids by September 30 and make a decision in November.