Pascal Lamy

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Pascal Lamy
Photo P Lamy-2.jpg
Director-General of the World Trade Organization
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 September 2005
Preceded by Supachai Panitchpakdi
Succeeded by Roberto Azevêdo (designate)
European Commissioner for Trade
In office
13 September 1999 – 22 November 2004
President Romano Prodi
Preceded by Leon Brittan
Succeeded by Peter Mandelson
Personal details
Born (1947-04-08) 8 April 1947 (age 66)
Levallois-Perret, France
Political party Socialist Party
Spouse(s) Geneviève Lamy
Alma mater Institute of Political Studies, Paris
School of High Commercial Studies, Paris
National School of Administration, Strasbourg

Pascal Lamy (born 8 April 1947) is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. His appointment took effect on 1 September 2005 for a four-year term. In April 2009, WTO members reappointed Mr. Lamy for a second four-year term, beginning on 1 September 2009 and lasting until September 2013,[1] when he is to be succeeded by Roberto Azevêdo. He is also a French political advisor, a businessman, and a former European Commissioner for Trade. Lamy is currently the Honorary President of Paris-based think tank Notre Europe.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Born in Levallois-Perret, Hauts-de-Seine, a suburb of Paris, he graduated from the prestigious Sciences Po Paris, from HEC and ÉNA, graduating second in his year of those specialising in economics. Lamy is also an honorary graduate of the University of Warwick.[2]

Lamy then joined the civil service, and in this role he ended up serving as an adviser to Jacques Delors as Economics and Finance Minister and Pierre Mauroy as Prime Minister.

He has been a member of the French Socialist Party since 1969.

European Commission [edit]

When Delors became President of the European Commission in 1984, he took Lamy with him to serve as chef de cabinet, which he did until the end of Delors' term in 1994. During his time there, Lamy became known as the Beast of the Berlaymont, the Gendarme and Exocet due to his habit of ordering civil servants, even Directors-General (head of departments) "precisely what to do – or else." He was seen as ruling Delor's office with a "rod of iron", with no-one able to bypass or manipulate him and those who tried being "banished to one of the less pleasant European postings".[3]

Lamy briefly moved into business at Crédit Lyonnais. Promoted to second in command, he was involved in the restructuring and privatisation of the bank. Returning to the European Commission in 1999, he was appointed European Commissioner for Trade by Commission President Romano Prodi. Lamy served to the expiry of the commission's term in 2004. His ability to manage the powerful civil servants in his department was noted.[4]

WTO [edit]

On 13 May 2005, Pascal Lamy was chosen as the next director-general of the World Trade Organization, and took office on 1 September 2005 for a four-year term. On 30 April 2009, Lamy was re-elected unanimously by the WTO general council for a second term of four years, beginning 1 September 2009.[5] He also serves as the chairman of the organization's Trade Negotiations Committee. He is the WTO's fifth director-general.

Personal life [edit]

Lamy is married and has three sons. His hobbies are running and cycling.[6]

Select publications [edit]

Lectures [edit]

The Relationship between WTO Law and General International Law in the Lecture Series of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law

References [edit]

  1. ^ WTO | Director-General: Pascal Lamy
  2. ^ Honorary Degrees for Pensions Campaigner, World Trade Director and Theatre Critic
  3. ^ Eppink, Derk-Jan; Ian Connerty (translator) (2007). Life of a European Mandarin: Inside the Commission (1st edition ed.). Tielt, Belgium: Lannoo. pp. 22–3. ISBN 978-90-209-7022-7. 
  4. ^ Former EU Mandarin Spills the Beans on Commission Intrigue Deutsche Welle
  5. ^ WTO | News - What’s happening at the WTO
  6. ^ Commissioner Pascal Lamy, Europa (web portal)

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pascal Lamy
Political offices
Preceded by
Édith Cresson
Yves-Thibault de Silguy		 French European Commissioner
1999–2004
Served alongside: Michel Barnier		 Succeeded by
Jacques Barrot
Preceded by
Leon Brittan		 European Commissioner for Trade
1999–2004		 Succeeded by
Peter Mandelson
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Supachai Panitchpakdi		 Director-General of the World Trade Organization
2005–2013		 Succeeded by
Roberto Azevêdo (designated)
Authority control