EMA Details Brexit Continuity Plan and Staff Retention Efforts

The European Medicines Agency will try to maintain “business as usual” for as long as possible throughout the U.K.’s upcoming exit from the European Union, according to a newly released continuity plan.

To account for what it describes as a possibly “unprecedented loss of expertise and experience over a rather short timeframe” — following the move of its headquarters from London to a yet-to-be-determined EU city — the EMA plans to implement a dedicated Brexit recruitment strategy for new hires.

The official selection of one of 19 potential host cities for the EMA is expected to be announced Nov. 20. A survey of agency staff last month showed the choice of location could result in a significant percentage of employees deciding not to make the move.