Pietro Benassi (born June 7, 1958) is an Italian diplomat who served as permanent representative to the European Union from 2021 to 2023. He also served as undersecretary of state for the

Delegated Authority for the Security of the Republic The Delegated Authority for the Security of the Republic ( it, Autorità Delegata per la Sicurezza della Repubblica), is a government agency within the Council of Ministers (Italy), Council of Ministers with the aim of coordinating the Prime Minis ...

in 2021, as ambassador to Germany from 2014 to 2018, and as ambassador to Tunisia from 2009 to 2013.

Early life

Benassi was born in Rome on June 7, 1958. He graduated from the University of Padua with a '' laurea magistrale'' in political science in 1980, and joined the diplomatic service in 1984.

Career

On July 31, 2009, he was appointed ambassador to Tunisia. He served during the Tunisian revolution, which he affirmed Italy's support for. He was appointed ambassador to Germany on September 23, 2014. He served until 2018, when he was appointed diplomatic advisor and sherpa for the G7 and G20 summits. In 2021, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte named him undersecretary of state for the

. On March 11, 2021, he was appointed permanent representative to the European Union.

Personal life

Benassi speaks English, German,

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

and Spanish.

Honours

National honours

2nd Class / Grand Officer: '' Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana'': 2019 : ITA OMRI 2001 Com BAR

3rd Class / Commander: '' Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana'': 2009 : ITA OMRI 2001 Uff BAR

4th Class / Officer: '' Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana'': 2002 : Cavaliere OMRI BAR

5th Class / Knight: ''

Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ( it, Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana) is the senior Italian order of merit. It was established in 1951 by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi. The highest-ranking h ...

'': 1995

Foreign honours

* : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany * : Grand Cross of the National Order of Faithful Service

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benassi, Pietro 1958 births Living people People from Rome Italian diplomats Ambassadors of Italy to Germany Permanent Representatives of Italy to the European Union 20th-century diplomats 21st-century diplomats University of Padua alumni Conte II Cabinet Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Recipients of the National Order of Faithful Service