Pietro Benassi

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 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 Delegated Authority for the Security of the Republic.

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

Personal life
Benassi speaks English, German, French and Spanish.

National honours

 * ITA OMRI 2001 GUff BAR.svg 2nd Class / Grand Officer: Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2019


 * ITA OMRI 2001 Com BAR.svg 3rd Class / Commander: Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2009


 * ITA OMRI 2001 Uff BAR.svg 4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2002


 * Cavaliere OMRI BAR.svg 5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 1995

Foreign honours

 * 🇩🇪 Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
 * 🇷🇴 Romania: Grand Cross of the National Order of Faithful Service