Mr. Panarella is Alternate Director on the Board of Directors at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Prior to joining the EBRD, Mr. Panarella served as senior economic advisor to the President of the European Council, Mr Donald Tusk, (2014-2019) and as economic advisor to the Italian Undersecretary of State for European Affairs in the Prime Minister's Office, during the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (2014). Previously, he had held several positions in the Legal Service and in the General Secretariat of the European Investment Bank (1995-2014). Admitted to practise law in Italy (avvocato cassazionista) and the UK (solicitor, England and Wales, not practising), prior to joining the EIB, Mr. Panarella practised law in Italy and Belgium, specialising in commercial, financial, corporate and EU law.