The decision, adopted by the central executive, means the agency will be located in the Aragon Pavilion of the 2008 Expo, a space covering 7,000 square meters. The selection was formalized earlier than the initially expected date, which had pointed to August.
The Granada bid, which had the institutional support of the Junta de Andalucía, proposed the former Clinical Hospital as the main site. For this option, the regional administration had projected an investment of over ten million euros for the renovation and adaptation of the facilities, in addition to further commitments for equipment and maintenance.
Various local institutions and political representatives have expressed their disappointment following the announcement. Both the Granada City Council and the Provincial Council have questioned the lack of transparency in the evaluation criteria, highlighting the province's track record and scientific potential in the health sector.
Meanwhile, representatives of the PSOE have indicated that the management of the Andalusian School of Public Health by the regional government may have influenced the perception of the bid, arguing that the restructuring of said center weakened Granada's proposal compared to other state options.
