Achieving Sustainable Economic Growth in Europe

Philip von Brockdorff is a full professor and resident academic at the Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy University of Malta. He graduated with a Master of Science in Economics at the University of Wales and with a DPhil in Economics from the University of York specialising in public sector economics. He has authored several publications and consultancy reports, and is currently Vice President of the Workers Group at the European Economic and Social Committee based in Brussels, as well as Governor on the Board of Governors at the Malta Financial Services Authority.

Stefano Palmieri is economist at the International and European Department at the Italian trade union: Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL) He is a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), since 2009, and is currently Vice-President of the Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion. He also served as President of the same Section from 2018 to 2023 and as President of the EESC’s Europe 2020 Steering Committee from 2013 to 2016. From October 2025 he will be the EESC’s President for External Relations.

Jonathan Spiteri is a Senior Lecturer within the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy at the University of Malta. A PhD graduate in Economics from the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Spiteri’s research interests include ESG, sustainability, public health, macroeconomics and behavioural science, and his research has been published in several leading peer-reviewed journals and books. Beyond academia, Dr. Spiteri’s consultancy experience spans more than 14 years, focusing on macroeconomics, socioeconomic impact assessment and ESG issues for both public and private sector entities alike. He is also the Deputy Chairperson of Malta’s Climate Action Authority.