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(Adds task force and tax incentives)
By Mark Bendeich
MILAN, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The European Union is likely toselect a new home for the bloc's London-based medicinesregulator by June, according to the mayor of Milan, one ofseveral cities vying to host the organisation after Brexit.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which employs 890staff, acts as a one-stop-shop for drug approvals across the EU,but its future location is unclear after Britain's decision toleave the bloc.
"There is a sort of urgency. It will depend on the finalresolution with the UK (on Brexit) but according to ourinformation, probably in April they will decide to define that.In a couple of months they will choose the final destination,"Mayor Giuseppe Sala told a news conference in Milan.
He said it would then be a couple of years before the agencyactually moved.
The EMA is the largest EU body in Britain and is a prize forrival cities seeking to attract high-skilled jobs.
Other countries vying to host the agency include Denmark,Sweden, Spain, France, Ireland and Poland. As well as creatingjobs, the EMA has the potential to act as a hub forpharmaceuticals, one of Europe's most important industries.
Sala was flanked at the briefing by Economy Minister PierCarlo Padoan who, along with Italy’s prime minister andpresident, are lobbying to persuade the EMA and also theEuropean Banking Authority to relocate to Milan from London.
Italy has also formed a task force to attract EUinstitutions and banks looking to leave London as a result ofBrexit, and recently enacted personal tax incentives forprofessional managers and wealthy non-residents coming to Italy.
These include a halving of personal income tax or, for thesuper rich, a flat annual income tax of 100,000 euros.
Asked if Milan had already received positive signals overthe EMA, Sala said: "We know that many cities in Europe arecompeting. It’s difficult to say now ... It’s clear to everybodythat it’s a political issue."
A spokeswoman for the EMA in London declined to comment onthe timing of any move, noting the location of the agency afterBrexit would be determined by EU member states by commonagreement.
The uncertainty surrounding Europe's equivalent of the U.S.Food and Drug Administration is a concern for drugmakers, whoworry that Europe's drug approval system might face disruptionand potential delays.
There is particular anxiety about relations between the EMAand a future separate British drugs regulator. Drug companyexecutives are braced for Britain to quit the pan-Europeanmedicines regulator as part of Brexit, but they want the countryto continue to work closely with the EMA by agreeing reciprocalrules for drug approvals. (Additional reporting by Ben Hirschler in London; Editing bySusan Fenton and Adrian Croft)
