Glenn Micallef, Malta’s nominee for the European Commission, will face an important grilling today by the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT).

MEPs will question him about his suitability for the role of Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport.

If Micallef demonstrates the necessary expertise and competence, he is expected to pass this critical stage and move one step closer to joining the EU’s executive body.

 

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Sources within the European People’s Party (EPP) suggest that his political affiliation as a Labour Party nominee will not play a significant role in the decision.

The CULT committee is known for being more consensus-driven than other, more confrontational committees, and Micallef’s main task is to prove his command of the portfolio.

His grilling comes early in the series of Commissioner-Designate hearings, which might help him avoid the heightened political tension expected later in the process.

At 35, Micallef is the youngest nominee for EU Commissioner, making him one of the youngest in the EU’s history if confirmed.

He is a graduate in Economics and European Politics from the University of Malta and has extensive experience in EU affairs, having served as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Robert Abela and Director General of Malta’s EU Coordination Department.

With informal votes by party coordinators determining the outcome, his strong familiarity with EU structures and policies will prove crucial for this important step in his role.

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