Julian Priestley (1997-2007)

Biography

Julian Priestley was born on 26 May 1950 in Croydon, United Kingdom. He graduated with honours in 1972 from Balliol College, University of Oxford in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. From 1974 to 1976, he was President of the Young European Federalists.

Priestley has published widely on EU affairs; his writings include Six battles that shaped Europe's Parliament (2008), Europe's Parliament: People, Places, Politics (2012), The Making of a European President (2015) and Our Europe, Not Theirs (2016).

Julian Priestley passed away on 22 April 2017.

Administrative Posts held

1973-1983: Entered the European Parliament as an administrator, afterwards a principal administrator in the secretariat of the Committee on Budgets
1981-1983: Chair of the Staff Committee in the European Parliament
1984-1987: Head of the department for the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Research and Technology
1985-1987: Co-Chair of the Committee for the Staff Regulations of the European Community
1987-1989: Director of the Directorate-General for Committees and Delegations, with specific responsibility for budgetary affairs and the single market
1989-1994: Secretary-General of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament
1994-1997: Head of the Cabinet of President of the European Parliament Klaus Hänsch
1997-2007: Secretary-General of the European Parliament, stepping down after 10 years in office

Medal presentation ceremony for civil servants. Harald Rømer (L), Julian Priestley (C), EP President Nicole Fontaine (R). © European Communities 2000

What's in the Archives

The Fonds of Julian Priestley's Cabinet (1997-2007) contain documents related to the Secretary-General's specific duties and are currently arranged in more than 600 files containing over 5,600 items.

Organisation of the Secretariat

SG 05JP 0500, 1000, 1500

This series concerns various matters relating to the administrative and operational organisation of the different directorates-general. These include the delegation of powers of appointment and signature, meetings with the director-generals, contacts with advisory bodies, the management of invitations to tender and HR management within the Secretariat, internal audit, the method for adjusting the remuneration of officials of the European Communities and archives relating to the medical service, the Staff Committee and the unions. 

Organisation of the European Parliament: Action taken on strategic files

SG 05JP 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 4700, 5000, 6000, 7000, 7500

This series contains documents on the general organisation of the European Parliament related to:

• The European elections and the enlargement of the Community
• Economic matters- the Monetary Union task force and other budget and finance
• The Maastricht European Council, from the point of view of its implications for the EP
• The seat of the European Parliament
• Property policy and management
• Sports, artistic and cultural activities, seen from the point of view of events organised by the EP
• Art and celebrations to mark the 30th and 40th anniversaries of the Treaty of Rome.

Relations

SG 05JP 6100, 6200, 6500

This series concerns the Secretary-General's various relations in the context of his activities: first, his internal relations with the Office of the President and the political groups, then his external relations with other Community institutions, bodies and agencies, as well as with other national institutions and lobbyists. Finally, he also maintains relations in the context of various associations with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.