RIGHT HONOURABLE Terry DAVIS MP (United Kingdom)
Representative
Labour
House of Commons, London SW1A OAA - (Tel. (44 207) 219 4509 - Fax (44 207)
219 6221)
June 2003
Terry Davis has been a leading member of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for 11 years. He knows and understands the organisation through his work in the assembly, on committees and as rapporteur. Terry has visited 42 of the 45 member countries and will speak for the whole of Europe. His depth and breadth of knowledge and experience through his work within major international organisations fit him well for the position of Secretary General
The Secretary General is elected by the Parliamentary Assembly, but is responsible to the Committee of Ministers. Terry’s incisive questioning, his rigorous, yet open and direct approach and his good analytical skills, are necessary qualities which he would bring to this role. His strong leadership skills and independence of mind are well known and he is highly regarded by colleagues of all parties and countries for his fairness, his integrity and his ability to persuade and negotiate to achieve results.
The role of the Secretary General is not to be a figurehead, but to speak for the Council of Europe and ensure that its work is known and valued as a positive influence wherever there are issues of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Terry’s ability to express the values of the Council of Europe and apply them to current issues was illustrated by his speech on Terrorism after 11 September and his speeches opposing the war with Iraq.
Terry believes in the future of the Council of Europe. He has the ideas, the energy and the experience to ensure that it has a major role in shaping the emerging new Europe.
Personal
Details
Born in 1938.
Married with 2 children and 2 grandchildren
Appointed to Her Majesty’s Privy Council on the recommendation of
the Prime Minister,
in recognition of his services to the Council of Europe (1999)
Education
Studied European History, French Language & Literature and German Language
& LiteratureGraduated in Law at the University of London
Postgraduate Degree in Business Administration (cum summa laude) at the
University of Michigan (USA)
-Studied Economics, Finance, Accountancy, Human Resources,
-Marketing and Organisation
Management
Experience
Worked as a senior manager in the oil, footwear & automotive industries
(14 years)
- General Manager with responsibility for more than 2000 people
Member of Trade Union for managers, scientists and technicians (38
years)
- Chair of Parliamentary
Committee
Equal
Opportunities
Committed to equality for men and women and people of all ethnic origins
-As manager in industry, appointed women to senior positions
-Represents a constituency with a large Muslim minority
Political
Experience
Member of the Labour Party (39 years)
-Secretary of Local Labour Party (2 years)
-Labour Councillor in Local Government (2 years)
-Chair of County Labour Party (3 years)
Labour candidate in 11 Parliamentary Elections
Chairman of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the treatment of
elderly people
living in Birmingham (2001 – 2)
Parliamentary
Member of Parliament (27 years)
Official Spokesperson for Labour Party in Parliament on
-Health (3 years)
-Finance & Economic Affairs (3 years)
-Trade & Industry (1 year)
Member of European Scrutiny Committee monitoring all decisions made by the
European Union (2 years)
Member of the Public Accounts Committee examining the efficiency of Government
Departments (7 years)
Member of Public Records Advisory Committee advising on whether Government
files should be made public (6 years)
Member of Privy Council (appointed 1999)
-Committee on the conflict between human rights and anti-terrorism legislation
(appointed 2002)
Council
of Europe
Member of UK delegation to COE Parliamentary Assembly (11 years)
-Leader of Labour delegation (7 years)
-Leader of UK delegation (5 years)
President of Socialist Group (2 years)
Vice-president of Assembly (4 years)
Member of Assembly Bureau (5 years)
Candidate for Secretary General (1999)
Member of Economic Affairs and Development Committee (8 years)
-Chair of Committee (3 years)
Member of Political Affairs Committee (8 years)
-Chair of Committee (2 years)
Member of the Monitoring Committee (7 years)
Member of the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee (2 years)
Member of the Board of the International Institute for Democracy (5 years)
Rapporteur for Reports on:
-European Bank of Reconstruction & Development (1994)
-North-South Centre (1997)
-Organisation for Economic Co-operation &Development (1998)
-Georgia’s admission to COE (1999)
-Monitoring of Latvia (1999)
-Terrorism (2001)
-Nagorno Karabakh (2002–3)
Observed Elections in Albania, Georgia, Latvia & Ukraine
Attended 2 meetings with the Venice Commission (Democracy through Law
Attended 2 Parliamentary Conferences for the South East Europe Stability
Pact
Attended 3 Parliamentary Conferences organised by CIS Assembly
Contribution to Other International Organisations
Western
European Union
Member of UK delegation to WEU Parliamentary Assembly (11 years)
-Leader of Labour delegation (7 years)
-Leader of UK delegation (5 years)
Vice-President of the Assembly (5 years)
Chair of Rules Committee (2 years)
President of the Socialist Group (4 years)
Rapporteur for several reports on defence & security issues
Awarded medal in recognition of his services to the WEU and Inter-Parliamentary
European Security & Defence Assembly
Organisation for Security & Co-operation in Europe
Member of the UK delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (6 years)
-Leader of UK delegation (elected 2002)
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Member of Executive Committee of UK Branch of IPU (5 years)
Attended IPU Conference in Moscow (1998)
Member of new Committee on Democracy & Human Rights (elected May 2003)
Party
of European Socialists
Attended several meetings as representative of COE and WEU Socialist Groups
United
Nations General Assembly
Addressed the UN General Assembly during debates on Co-operation between
UN
and COE (2 years)
Friendship
Groups
Member of many groups for friendship between UK and other European countries
-Chair of Belarus and Belgian Groups
-Vice-Chair of Denmark, Latvia and Sweden Groups
Non-Governmental Organisations
Member of:
-United Nations Association
-Links Europa
-Globe UK
-Socialist Health Association
-Socialist Environmental and Resources Association
Supporter of Amnesty International and Greenpeace
Chair of Birmingham Citizens Advice Bureaux (3 years)
Visiting Lecturer at Civil Service College (7 years)
