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Luciano Stella

Luciano Stella, Co-Managing Partner

MUST & Partners

l.stella@mustconsulting.com

My Job

Deeply engaged in European politics and lobbying, I work daily in close contact with the EU institutions, developing strategies and building relationships to effectively represent the interests of our clients.

My Experience

With over two decades of distinguished experience in European Union affairs, I am the Founder and Co-Managing Partner of MUST & Partners, where I provide strategic counsel at the highest levels within the Brussels policy ecosystem.

My professional trajectory is marked by a combination of entrepreneurial leadership and institutional engagement. I am also the Founder of NDV Consulting and serve on the Board of Zetema in Rome. As Founder and sole Director of European Project Advice S.r.l., established in 2012, I have developed and overseen complex European initiatives, further consolidating my expertise in EU funding and project management.

My commitment to shaping the public affairs community is reflected in my roles as President of the Italian Business Network (IBN), Vice-President of APRII, and member of several prominent boards, including the Executive Board of the Forum d’Études Européennes. Recognized among the Top 150 Public Affairs Consultants in Brussels for six consecutive years, I previously served at the European Parliament within the EPP Group, laying the institutional foundations of my career. Alongside my professional activities,

I actively contribute to academia and public discourse, lecturing on EU lobbying at leading institutions and engaging with media, supported by a Master’s degree in Public Administration and International Affairs and fluency in Italian, English, and French

My Proudest Achievements

After years of experience within the EU institutions and in the private sector, founding MUST & Partners in 2014 was a major personal and professional milestone – one I had been working towards since my very first day in Brussels.

My Education

I hold a degree in Economics and Business earned at the University of Roma Tre.

My Languages

Italian (native), English & French.

My Interests outside work

A Roman by birth and by passion, I’m fascinated by historical cartography, vintage photography, and strategic games.

My Favourite Brussels anecdote

During my time as a trainee at the European Parliament, many of my friends – like me, unpaid stagiaires – would attend as many events as possible to enjoy the buffets and save money. Today, many of them are EU fficials, MEPs, or CEOs of major companies. We still laugh about those early days during our dinners together, remembering where it all began.

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