"Government heads up candidature of Barcelona to host European Medicines Agency", says Dolors Montserrat

She made this statement to journalists at the inauguration of the SEAT Healthcare and Rehabilitation Centre (Spanish acronym: CARS) located at the factory in Martorell.

The Minister for Health, Social Services and Equality pointed out that the government is working to ensure that the headquarters of the European Medicines Agency comes to Spain, specifically to Barcelona. "Spain is the ideal country to host this agency since it is a global benchmark in healthcare, one of the great research powers at a European level and the leading scientific hub in southern Europe."

In terms of the city of Barcelona, the minister highlighted that out of the candidatures presented, Barcelona is the only city that meets all the requirements. Among other aspects, it has a wonderful public transport network and meets all the requirements of connectivity with the 27 European capitals, including daily flights and with frequent connections with America and Asia.

Dolors Montserrat stressed to the media that it will not be easy for the European Medicines Agency to be brought to Barcelona because of the strong competition among the 27 countries, but stressed that "Mariano Rajoy and the ministry are working to win support from Spain's EU partners".

She also highlighted that the choice of Spain to host the European Medicines Agency would provide a major economic and social boost since, among other things, some 1,600 companies operate closely with the agency and that its arrival would mean some 40,000 visits from scientists.