Last night, a coin toss in Brussels brought the post-Brexit future that bit closer. After months of jockeying and promotion, ministers from the E.U. 27 met to decide the future home of two key agencies currently housed in London, the European Banking Authority and the European Medicines Agency. With many European cities vying to host these influential agencies, the rounds of voting for each ended in a tie. So it was left to the Estonians, who currently hold the Council of the E.U.’s rotating presidency, to decide each contest by drawing one of two lots from a bowl. Thus did Amsterdam beat Milan to host the EMA, while Paris bested Dublin to become the EBA’s new home.
While neither agency is vast, the decisions made are key in suggesting the future power map of a Britain-free E.U., and in reflecting the reduced position London will hold outside the union. The decision also marks an end to months of phony war. After endless debate and some chaos following Britain’s narrow referendum vote in favor of leaving the E.U. last June, the real-world effects of Brexit are finally starting to be felt.
