The opportunity to host the prestigious drug agency, which will relocate from its current home in London after Brexit, has been awarded to Amsterdam.
But ever since the decision, Italy has fought to have the ruling overturned after a bid by Milan received the same number of votes and only lost out when officials were forced to settle the contest by drawing straws.
And despite being told this week the European Commission will not review its choice, the mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala, pledged today: “This battle doesn’t end until the last day.”
The major had previously seized on comments made by fellow countryman and EMA boss Guido Rasi as the reason to rekindle Milan’s failed bid to host the EU authority.
Mr Rasi voiced concerns the agency’s new home in Amsterdam “will not be ready” in time and alternative solutions touted by the Dutch are “non-optimal”.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
In response, Mayor Sala spoke with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni to mount a fresh challenge for Italy to host the EMA and its 900 full-time staff.
In an attempt to have the controversial decision overturned, Italian MEPs took their case to Brussels.
And although the EU’s Constitutional Affairs Commission has now acknowledged there were problems with transparency during the bidding process and issues with the voting procedure itself, an attempt by MEP Mercedes Bresso to force the decision to be taken again has been voted down.
The EMA, known as one of the crown jewels of the EU, is preparing to relocate to Amsterdam from London’s Canary Wharf after March 29, 2019, and will take with it its 900 full-time employees.
The authority also attracts some 36,000 visitors every year, providing a lucrative boost for hotels and restaurants in the host city.
Milan, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Vienna and Barcelona were all in the running to host the agency after an initial bidding process which took place last year.
The Italian city won the first three rounds of voting, with Amsterdam and Copenhagen joint second.
Once the losers had been removed, their votes went to the finalists and the Italian and Dutch cities were joint winners.
But Milan suffered a bitter defeat after it lost out in hosting the EMA to Amsterdam in a highly controversial lucky dip.
(Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.)