The EMA Board has endorsed the functional specifications for a clinical trial portal and database that will be developed by the EMA as part of the implementation of the new EU Clinical Trials Regulation. These specifications were drawn up by the EMA in collaboration with the Member States and the European Commission and have been released for public consultation. The final document will be published shortly on the EMA website. The portal, database and associated workspace are created to simplify and facilitate the approval of clinical trials in the EU by providing a single entry point for the submission of data and information relating to clinical trials. This should improve the attractiveness of the EU as a research location and facilitate multistate trials. The EMA will present timelines for the development and deployment of the system at the March 2015 Management Board meeting.