Treaty of Amsterdam 1997 (ii)

This material is held atUniversity of Dundee Archive Services

  • Reference
    • GB 254 MS 420/19
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1997-2000
  • Name of Creator
  • Physical Description
    • 1 archive box

Scope and Content

Books, booklets and journals based around the Treaty of Amsterdam, that were owned by Nicoll. Includes: Booklet published by European Commission, 'The Treaty on European Union - the Meaning of Amsterdam', 1997 Book in the European Dossier Series by Franklin Dehouse, 'Amsterdam: the Making of a Treaty', 1999 Booklet written by General Secretariat of the Council, published by Office for Official Publications of European Communities, 'The Treaty of Amsterdam: Challenges and Solutions', 1998 Book written by Bobby mcDonagh, 'Original Sin in a Brave New World: an Account of the Negotiation of the Treaty of Amsterdam', 1998 Book edited by Karlheinz Neunreither and Antje Wiener, 'European Integration After Amsterdam: Institutional Dynamics and Prospects for Democracy', 2000 Book edited by Andrew Duff, 'The Treaty of Amsterdam', 1997 Book published by the European Policy Centre, 'Making Sense of Amsterdam Treaty', 1997 Journal, official Journal of the European Communities, Vol. 40, on the Treaty of Amsterdam, 'Treaty of Amsterdam: Amending the Treaty of European Union, the Treaties Establishing the European Communities and Certain Related Acts', November 1997

Administrative / Biographical History

Born in Dundee, Sir William Nicoll was an only child. Growing up in a tenement, his father was a joiner. He attended Morgan Academy, then won a scholarship to University College, Dundee, which was then part of the University of St Andrews.
Nicoll passed the civil service exams and moved to London in 1949 to join the Board of Trade. Married Helen Morison in 1954, at the same time he became Editor of The Reel, a post he held in 1954 and 1955. The next year he was posted to Calcutta as trade commissioner, cutting short his editorship. Within ten years he had risen to become private secretary to Douglas Jay, the Labour heavyweight whom Harold Wilson had appointed president of the Board of Trade.
From there Nicoll was seconded to the Foreign Office and served 20 years as one of the UK's senior men in Brussels. He became familiar with the French language and had a narrow escape from an IRA letter bomb while there.
Nicoll rose to become Director General of the Council of the European Communities, and was knighted in 1992. In retirement, he lectured, edited the European Business Journal, wrote books on the European Union and advised candidate countries hoping to join it.
Sir William was a lifelong teetotaller, and keen Scottish country dancer.

Access Information

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Note

Born in Dundee, Sir William Nicoll was an only child. Growing up in a tenement, his father was a joiner. He attended Morgan Academy, then won a scholarship to University College, Dundee, which was then part of the University of St Andrews.
Nicoll passed the civil service exams and moved to London in 1949 to join the Board of Trade. Married Helen Morison in 1954, at the same time he became Editor of The Reel, a post he held in 1954 and 1955. The next year he was posted to Calcutta as trade commissioner, cutting short his editorship. Within ten years he had risen to become private secretary to Douglas Jay, the Labour heavyweight whom Harold Wilson had appointed president of the Board of Trade.
From there Nicoll was seconded to the Foreign Office and served 20 years as one of the UK's senior men in Brussels. He became familiar with the French language and had a narrow escape from an IRA letter bomb while there.
Nicoll rose to become Director General of the Council of the European Communities, and was knighted in 1992. In retirement, he lectured, edited the European Business Journal, wrote books on the European Union and advised candidate countries hoping to join it.
Sir William was a lifelong teetotaller, and keen Scottish country dancer.

Archivist's Note

Description compiled by Joy Naomi Ramsay, Archives Volunteer, 16/04/2018

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