Poland loses race to host two EU agencies

Poland won’t be a new home to European Medicines Agency or European Banking Authority as it failed to secure enough votes to get through to the second round. Both election processes were very close and needed three rounds of voting which both ended in a tie. The final decision was made by drawing of lots, and as a result, Amsterdam will be the new host of the European Medicines Agency beating out Milan, while the European Banking Authority will move to Paris which won against Dublin. Both agencies are currently situated in London, but needed new homes after the UK will leave the EU in 2019. Warsaw was in the running to host both agencies but was not seen as a favorite, especially after being at loggerheads with Brussels over a number of issues, with dangers to the rule of law being one of them. Moreover, in a recent poll among the European Medicines Agency employees, Warsaw placed among the three locations with the lowest retention rate, with EMA warning that over 80 percent of its employees could leave the agency if one of the lower-rated cities is chosen. Currently, Warsaw is a host to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex.