These files relate to David White's time when he worked in employment policy in DG V and in the General Secretariat, when he reported to the Commission on meetings of Coreper and of the Council. White was under the authority of the Directors of the General Secretariat, first of Henri Etienne (under the Vice-President of the Commission, Baron Tudendhat) then of Antonio Marchini Camia and later (of Paolo Ponzano as a colleague). Although many of the notes are signed by the above individuals and issued under their authority, their drafting was the responsibility of White.

The chrono files contain notes that David White wrote or concern topics on which he intervened substantially within the Commission. White was involved in fields of work that came under Coreper I. In particular, he reported on the budgetary debates in Council during the Thatcher campaign for UK "get our money back" and on the "super councils" of agriculture, budget and economic ministers that met in an attempt to move the debate forwards. On some of these occasions, advisers were excluded from the meetings and apart from the Commissioner, White was the only person present for the Commission.