Graham Watson

Sir Graham Watson (born 23 March 1956, Rothesay, Scotland) is a member of APCO Worldwide's international advisory council and a former Liberal Democrats MEP for the South West of England and Somerset and North Devon.
==Revolving door==
In September 2014 Watson was hired by APCO Worldwide to be on its international advisory council. Rod Muir APCO swoops for former MEP Public Affairs News, 25 September 2014, accessed 19 January 2015 
==Affiliations==
===Parliamentary Affiliations===
:Chair:
:	21.07.1999 / 14.01.2002 : Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs
:	16.01.2002 / 19.07.2004 : Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party
:	20.07.2004 / 13.07.2009 : Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
:	30.09.2009 / 30.06.2014 : Delegation for relations with India
:Member:
:	19.07.1994 / 01.08.1994 : Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party
:	21.07.1994 / 15.01.1997 : Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy
:	02.08.1994 / 27.01.1997 : Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party
:	17.11.1994 / 11.07.1995 : Delegation for relations with Japan
:	10.07.1995 / 15.01.1997 : Subcommittee on Monetary Affairs
:	12.07.1995 / 15.01.1997 : Delegation for relations with Japan
:	16.01.1997 / 13.10.1997 : Delegation for relations with Japan
:	16.01.1997 / 19.07.1999 : Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy
:	28.01.1997 / 19.07.1999 : Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party
:	14.10.1997 / 23.02.1999 : Delegation for relations with Japan
:	24.02.1999 / 19.07.1999 : Delegation for relations with Japan
:	20.07.1999 / 15.01.2002 : Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party
:	21.07.1999 / 14.01.2002 : Conference of Committee Chairmen
:	29.09.1999 / 14.01.2002 : Delegation for relations with Japan
:	16.01.2002 / 19.07.2004 : Conference of Presidents
:	17.01.2002 / 23.04.2002 : Committee on Development and Cooperation
:	07.03.2002 / 07.05.2002 : Delegation to the European Economic Area Joint Parliamentary Committee (EEA)
:	20.07.2004 / 13.07.2009 : Conference of Presidents
:	21.07.2004 / 15.12.2004 : Committee on Legal Affairs
:	15.09.2004 / 13.03.2007 : Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula
:	14.10.2004 / 08.06.2005 : Temporary committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007-2013
:	16.12.2004 / 25.10.2006 : Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
:	14.03.2007 / 13.07.2009 : Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula
:	14.07.2009 / 19.07.2009 : Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
:	16.07.2009 / 18.01.2012 : Committee on Foreign Affairs
:	20.07.2009 / 30.06.2014 : Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
:	16.09.2009 / 30.06.2014 : Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China
:	16.09.2009 / 29.09.2009 : Delegation for relations with India
:	30.09.2009 / 30.06.2014 : Conference of Delegation Chairs
:	19.01.2012 / 30.06.2014 : Committee on Foreign Affairs
:Substitute:
:	21.07.1994 / 15.01.1997 : Committee on Budgets
:	30.11.1994 / 15.01.1997 : Committee on Social Affairs and Employment
:	16.01.1997 / 19.07.1999 : Subcommittee on Monetary Affairs
:	16.01.1997 / 19.07.1999 : Committee on Budgets
:	21.07.1999 / 14.01.2002 : Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism
:	17.01.2002 / 19.07.2004 : Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs
:	15.09.2004 / 13.03.2007 : Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China
:	14.03.2007 / 13.07.2009 : Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China
:	16.07.2009 / 18.01.2012 : Committee on Fisheries
:	16.09.2009 / 30.06.2014 : Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
:	19.01.2012 / 30.06.2014 : Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Sir Graham Watson European Parliament, accessed 19 January 2015 
==Record and Controversies==
===Declaration of Financial Interests===
*I am a beneficiary of Parliament's additional voluntary pension scheme, having been a member of this scheme from 1994 until its closure in 2009.European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Graham Watson, 02 September 2009, accessed 04 November 2009.
====Former Declaration of Financial Interests====
Professional Activities:
*Director, Bio-Bulgaria Development Company (not currently trading)
*Member of the Board, The Istanbul Centre in Brussels (unpaid)
Paid Functions or Activities:
*Occasional receipts from journalism, not in excess of GBP 750 per annum
Financial Support Received in Connection with Political Activities:
:Financial:
*GBP 2241 - granted by Government of Taiwan, to assist in the 2008 launch of Chinese language teaching scheme in my constituencyEuropean Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Graham Watson, 08 December 2008, accessed 10 February 2009.
===Record of Parliamentary Votes===
*Voted in favour of the directive on "establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy" (A5-0027/2000). The directive covers all water management aspects in order to achieve a 'good status' of all waters by 2015.Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.
*Voted against the directive on "national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants" (A5-0063/2000). The amendment allows setting less ambitious national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which would result in more damage to human health and the environment.Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.
*Voted against the Commission White Paper on "Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy" (A5-0356/2001). The amendment helps avoid the necessary precautionary approach towards some chemical substances that are not proven to be completely safe.Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.
*Voted in favour of the directive on "waste electrical and electronic equipment" (A5-0100/2002). The amendment sets higher reuse and recycling rates for IT and telecommunication equipment.Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
*Voted in favour of the report on "Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network" (A5-0135/2002). The Trans-European Network of Transport (TEN-T) is a network of so-called 'transport corridors' through Europe. This amendment calls for a full Strategic Environmental Assessment of these transport corridors and calls on the Commission to improve methods for analysing the environmental and economic impact of the TEN-T.Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.
*Voted in favour of the regulation concerning "traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms" (A5-0229/2002). The amendment allows customers the right to choose GM free food.Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.
*Voted in favour of the directive on "environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage" (A5-0145/2003). According to the amendment, polluters have to pay for environmental clean-up, and it supports an EU-wide regime which makes polluters liable for the damage they cause to wildlife, water and land.Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.
*Voted in favour of the directive on restructuring the "Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity" (A5-0302/2003). The amendment aims at giving tax benefits to environmentally friendly sources of energy, which would make them cheaper and more competitive to conventional (more polluting) sources of energy. It also gives tax benefits to environmentally friendly uses of energy for transport, for instance trains.Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
*Voted in favour of the amendment on Bulgaria’s progress towards accession (A5-0105/2004). The report objects to extending the life of the nuclear power stations in Bulgaria.Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.
==Personal Information==
===Curriculum Vitae===
*BA (Hons.) Modern Languages (1979). 
*Interpreter (1979-1980). 
*Administrator, Paisley College (1980-1983). 
*Head of the private office of the Rt Hon. David Steel MP, Leader of the Liberal Party (1983-1987). 
*Banker, HSBC Holdings PLC (1988-1994).
*Vice-President (1977-1979) and General Secretary (1979-1981), International Federation of Liberal and Radical Youth. 
*Council member, Party of European Liberals and Democrats (1983-1993).
*Member of the European Parliament (since 1994). 
*Whip, ELDR Group (1994-1996). 
*Leader, UK Liberal Democrats (1999-2002). 
*Chairman, Committee on Justice and Home Affairs (1999-2002). 
*Leader, ELDR Group (2002-2004).
*Editor, 'The Parliament Magazine (since 1999).
===Contact===	
:Address:
:Parlement européen
:Bât. Altiero Spinelli
:09G205
:60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60
:B-1047 Bruxelles/Brussel
:Phone:
:+32 (0)2 28 45626
:Fax:
:+32 (0)2 28 49626
:Email:
:graham.watson AT europarl.europa.eu
:Website: 
:http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org
==Resources==
*European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Graham Watson, 08 December 2008, accessed 10 February 2009.
*European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Graham Watson, 02 September 2009, accessed 04 November 2009.
*European Parliament, MEP Directory: Graham Watson, accessed 10 February 2009.
*European Parliament, MEP Directory: Graham Watson, accessed 05 December 2010.
*Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 10 February 2009.
==Notes==
Watson, Graham
Watson, Graham
Watson, Graham