Two European Union agencies are to be relocated out of London after EU chiefs flipped a coin and drew lots from a fishbowl to decide on new destinations.
The European Banking Authority (EBA) will head to Paris after the French capital was picked out of a bowl following a tied vote with Dublin, Ireland.
Earlier, Amsterdam was named the new home for the European Medicines Agency following a similar tie, forcing EU chiefs to flip a coin.
It comes as the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator warned Britain would not be allowed to ‘cherry pick’ elements of the single market, adding: ‘Brexit means Brexit.’
EU chiefs voted to move the European Medicines Agency (pictured) to Amsterdam and the European Banking Authority to Paris
Michel Barnier employed Theresa May’s own catchphrase as he lambasted Leave supporters who said Britain could enjoy some of the benefits of the single market while ditching freedom of movement.
He added: ‘We take note of the UK decision to end free movement of people.
This means, clearly, that the UK will close the benefits of the single market. This is a legal reality.’
Today’s move to relocate two key agencies out of London are among the firmest signs yet of Britain’s impending departure from the EU.
The honour of performing the tiebreak procedure fell to Matti Maasikas, Estonia’s EU affairs minister, who was chairing the ministerial meeting in Brussels.
And he had to do it not once, but twice, crushing the hopes of first Milan, which tied with Amsterdam to secure the EMA, and then Dublin, which lost out to Paris to host the EBA.
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (pictured) warned Britain would not be allowed to ‘cherry pick’ elements of the single market, adding: ‘Brexit means Brexit’
‘It was a big transparent bowl with two small lots,’ he told reporters eager for details of the novelty.
‘You did marvellously,’ beamed the contented Dutch minister at his side. ‘With a lot of talent,’ chipped in his equally satisfied French counterpart. ‘Thank you.’
Italy’s Sandro Gozi was less sanguine. The early favourite Milan had led every round of a voting process which leaders have compared to the European Song Contest. So being pipped in the fishbowl ‘left a bitter taste in the mouth’, said Gozi:
‘It’s like losing a final on penalties.’
The two agencies are currently based in Canary Wharf where they employ around 1,000 staff.
Some 890 top jobs will leave Britain for Amsterdam with the European Medicines Agency, giving the Dutch a welcome economic boost and more prestige.
The EMA is responsible for the evaluation, supervision and monitoring of medicines.
The Paris-bound European Banking Authority, which has around 180 staff members, monitors the regulation and supervision of Europe’s banking sector.
Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra said: ‘It is a fantastic result. It shows that we can deal with the impact of Brexit.’
The Prime Minister in Downing Street today ahead of the Cabinet sub-committee meet
The European Medicines Agency has less than 17 months to complete the move, but Amsterdam was considered ideally suited because of its location.
It comes as Downing Street tonight insisted ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed’ after a secretive summit of senior ministers to discuss signing off on a £40billion Brexit divorce bill.
Theresa May was today warned that ‘one pound is too much’ to give Brussels as she gathered her Brexit ‘war Cabinet’ to discuss hiking Britain’s offer.
A meeting of 10 of Mrs May’s most senior ministers gathered for what could prove to be one of the crucial moments in the Brexit process.
But as the meeting broke up after more than two hours, No 10 sources said the UK and EU must ‘step forward together’.
Ahead of the Downing Street summit, the Prime Minister faced a cacophony of complaints from Tory backbenchers who said the public would ‘go bananas’ if the government doubles its offer to the EU.
Senior Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are believed to be ready to agree to the increase – but are demanding concrete assurances from Brussels about trade talks.
Before her ministers gathered, Mrs May refused to be drawn on the details of the proposal that will be discussed.
Chancellor Philip Hammond said yesterday that Britain was preparing to table a new compromise deal ahead of an EU summit next month when leaders are due to decide whether to begin post-Brexit trade talks with the UK.
Mr Hammond declined to give a figure, but Brussels sources have suggested the EU will not consider a payment of less than £40billion – double the figure previously floated by Mrs May.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson left No 10 late tonight following a marathon summit of top ministers to decide whether to offer the EU more money for Brexit