Audio-visual archivists have recently completed the inventory and description of the 3804 audio-visual items deposited with the Pascal Lamy fonds at the Historical Archives of the European Union.
The collection comprises prints on paper, positives on paper, negatives, drawings, clippings, video recordings, a poster, and artefacts.
The archivists have organised the materials chronologically according to Lamy’s career path, from his early days as a civil servant in France to his career in the European institutions, and finally to his leadership role as Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Most of the photographs in the collection pertain to his positions as Chief of Staff to European Commission President Jacques Delors (for whom he was also the Sherpa at the G7 meetings (1985-1994)); as European Commissioner for Trade in the Prodi Commission (1999-2004), and as Director-General of the WTO (2005-2013). They document Lamy’s participation in official meetings, seminars, and conferences, as well as some official visits.
The collection also includes some photographs of Jacques Chirac, President of France from 1995-2007, and François Luchaire, the French politician and prominent professor of constitutional law who was also Lamy’s father-in-law.
Some photographs illustrate historically significant events for the European Union, such as the inauguration of the Eurotunnel and the first meeting with the Spanish and Portuguese Commissioners following their countries’ accession in 1986. There are also photographs of Lamy with important figures such as Nelson Mandela, Deng Xiaoping and General Vo Nguyen Giap.
The Pascal Lamy fonds can be consulted here.
Image: Pascal Lamy at the European Commission conducting a press conference on tariff regime and access to medicines in underdeveloped countries. (HAEU, PLA-1306)