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Coreper I prepares six of the 10 formations of the Council of Ministers. It is responsible for socio-economic themes, environmental and energy policy, transport, innovation, internal market and industrial policy, agriculture and fisheries, education, youth, culture and sport. Each of these are policy areas with a direct impact on the lives and work of the European Union's 500 million inhabitants.
Besides preparing these Councils, Coreper I is also responsible for the regular follow-up of legislative work in these areas. Coreper I meets at least once a week, usually on Wednesdays, sometimes a second time on Fridays.
The Coreper I ambassador, Pierre Cartuyvels, is assisted and replaced in his absence by a close diplomatic aide called 'Mertens', after the Mertens group that meets weekly to prepare Coreper I meetings. Mertens' position is filled by Timon Bo Salomonson.
The Mertens group gets its name from Belgian diplomat Vincent Mertens de Wilmars who created the group during the 1993 Belgian EU Presidency.