Pietro Benassi
OfficePermanent Representative of Italy to the European Union
Prime ministerMario Draghi
Giorgia Meloni
Term start11 March 2021
Term end10 March 2023
PredecessorMaurizio Massari
SuccessorVincenzo Celeste
Office 2Undersecretary of state for the Delegated Authority for the Security of the Republic
Prime minister 2Giuseppe Conte
Term start 222 January 2021
Term end 213 February 2021
Predecessor 2Luciano Pizzetti
Successor 2Franco Gabrielli
Office 3Italian Ambassador to Germany
Prime minister 3Matteo Renzi
Paolo Gentiloni
Giuseppe Conte
Term start 323 September 2014
Term end 331 August 2018
Predecessor 3Elio Menzione
Successor 3Luigi Mattiolo
Office 4Italian Ambassador to Tunisia
Prime minister 4Silvio Berlusconi
Mario Monti
Enrico Letta
Term start 41 December 2009
Term end 416 May 2013
Predecessor 4Antonio d'Andria
Successor 4Fanara Lorenzo
Birth placeRome, Italy
Alma materUniversity of Padua

Pietro Benassi (born 7 June 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 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 7 June 1958.[1] He graduated from the University of Padua with a laurea magistrale in political science in 1980, and joined the diplomatic service in 1984.[2]

Career

On 31 July 2009 he was appointed ambassador to Tunisia.[2][3] He served during the Tunisian revolution, which he affirmed Italy's support for.[4]

He was appointed ambassador to Germany on 23 September 2014.[5] He served until 2018, when he was appointed diplomatic advisor and sherpa for the G7 and G20 summits.[2]

In 2021, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte named him undersecretary of state for the Delegated Authority for the Security of the Republic.[6][7]

On 11 March 2021 he was appointed permanent representative to the European Union.[8]

Personal life

Benassi speaks English, German, French and Spanish.[9][2]

Honours

National honours

2nd Class / Grand Officer: Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2019[10]
3rd Class / Commander: Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2009[11]
4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2002[11]
5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 1995[11]

Foreign honours

References

  1. ^ "Scheda di attività di Pietro Benassi". Senate of the Republic
  2. ^ "All'Amb. Benassi, saranno delegate le funzioni attribuite al Presidente del Consiglio in materia di sicurezza della Repubblica.". DeliaPress.it. January 22, 2021.
  3. ^ "Il nuovo ambasciatore d'Italia in Tunisia S. E. Pietro Benassi". Il Corriere di Tunisi
  4. ^ "Italy supports Tunisia's historic process". Portal of the Presidency of the Government of Tunisia. February 19, 2011.
  5. ^ "Pietro Benassi: "Io, ambasciatore italiano a Berlino, orgoglioso dei miei connazionali in Germania"". Berlino Magazine. July 13, 2015.
  6. ^ "A guidare i Servizi va Pietro Benassi: diplomatico merkeliano vicinissimo a Conte". la Repubblica. January 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "Chi è Pietro Benassi, nuovo sottosegretario all'intelligence". Openpolis. January 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "Chi è Pietro Benassi, nuovo Ambasciatore Ue, ex-capo 007 nel Conte II". The Italian Times. April 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "All'ambasciatore Pietro Benassi la delega ai Servizi segreti". Agenzia Giornalistica Italia. January 21, 2021.
  10. ^ "Benassi Amb. Pietro". quirinale.it
  11. ^ "Benassi Dott. Pietro". quirinale.it
  12. ^ "Piero Benassi premiato con la Gran Croce al Merito. L'onorificenza è stata conferita dal Presidente della Repubblica Federale Steinmeier". il Mitte. October 18, 2019.
  13. ^ "Decrete de decorare semnate de Președintele României, domnul Klaus Iohannis". presidency.ro. October 16, 2018.