Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier with Directors-General Dr Carsten Pillath (left) and Mr Jarosław Pietras (right).

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier with Directors-General Dr Carsten Pillath (left) and Mr Jarosław Pietras (right).

© BMWi/Susanne Eriksson

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Peter Altmaier will today meet with high-ranking representatives of the Secretariat General of the Council of the European Union to prepare for Germany's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2020. Specifically, Minister Altmaier will meet with Directors-General Dr Carsten Pillath and Mr Jarosław Pietras to discuss the priorities the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has identified for the German Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Minister Altmaier said: "The role of Chair of the Council of the European Union is a great responsibility. It is about moving the European Union forward as a whole and bringing together the interests of all Member States to achieve this goal. I am delighted that the Directors-General of the Council Secretariat will feed in their many years of experience to support me in tackling this endeavour in the second half of 2020. I am therefore grateful that they are coming to Berlin today".

During Germany’s Presidency, Federal Minister Altmaier will chair a total of five Council configurations. These are the Competitiveness, Cohesion, Energy and Telecommunications Councils, and the Council of Trade Ministers.

The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (Council Secretariat) supports the work of the European Council (EU Heads of State and Government) and the Council of the European Union (Ministers from the Member States responsible for the areas concerned), including the Council Presidency. This includes both logistical and practical assistance as well as substantive support when it comes to organising meetings of the Council of the European Union and its preparatory bodies. It is therefore important to talk to the respective representatives of the Council Secretariat in advance of the Council Presidency.

Dr Carsten Pillath, Director-General for Economic Affairs and Competitiveness, works in the Council Secretariat where he is responsible for the Competitiveness and Cohesion Councils. Mr Jarosław Pietras, Director-General for Environment, Education, Transport and Energy, is responsible for the Energy and Telecommunications Councils. Mr Leonardo Schiavo, Director-General for Foreign Affairs, Enlargement and Civil Protection, who is responsible for the Trade Council, will unfortunately be unable to attend today's meeting in Berlin.