Glenn Micallef Handed Youth Portfolio By EU Commissioner

Glenn Micallef, Malta’s nominee for the European Commission, has been appointed Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport by Ursula von der Leyen.

At 35, Micallef is the youngest member of the proposed 27-member college and will focus on increasing youth involvement in EU policymaking.

Prime Minister Robert Abela quickly congratulated Micallef, calling it a “proud moment for Malta” as he takes on a role that significantly impacts youth, culture, and sports in Europe.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici also expressed enthusiasm for future collaboration with Micallef.

Although considered one of the smaller portfolios, the role carries substantial responsibility, with a budget exceeding €13 billion, encompassing key EU initiatives like Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and Creative Europe.

Von der Leyen previously announced her intention to create a commissioner role centred on intergenerational fairness, stressing the importance of ensuring today’s decisions benefit future generations and foster solidarity across age groups. Micallef expressed his honour at being given the portfolio, describing it as deeply relevant to the daily lives of EU citizens.

Von der Leyen emphasised the importance of intergenerational fairness, entrusting Micallef with overseeing this vital issue.

Micallef’s appointment concludes weeks of negotiations, during which the EU Commission encouraged governments to nominate more women to ensure gender balance.

Malta, however, maintained its support for Micallef, who replaced the original nominee, Chris Fearne, after he withdrew due to legal issues. Micallef, an expert in EU policy, previously served as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Abela.

In response to questions about pressure on member states to alter their nominations, von der Leyen dismissed such claims, stating that many countries had unrealistic expectations for their nominees to receive top economic portfolios.

#MaltaDaily