Italy has duty to appeal EU drugs agency decision – Paolo Gentiloni

Italian Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, on Wednesday said that Rome had a duty to appeal a decision by European authorities to move the bloc’s medicines agency EMA to Holland from Britain.

However, he realises it will be an uphill task.

“We have to do it,” Gentiloni said on Italian television in answer to a question about the appeal.

“He is the most senior government official to confirm the appeal publicly.

“It won’t be easy,” he said.

Milan lost its bid for the authority in November, when a tied vote among European Union ministers forced the winner to be chosen by drawing lots from a fishbowl.

The agency must leave its current home in London when Britain leaves the EU.