On 4 November, the Maltese delegation led by Deputy Speaker David Agius, and comprised of Government Deputy Whip Davina Sammut Hili and Opposition Whip Robert Cutajar, attended the opening sessions of the 40^th Small Branches Conference and the 8^th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference which took place in Sydney, Australia.

During the first workshop of the Small Branches Conference which discussed twinning between parliaments, Robert Cutajar spoke of the Parliamentary Friendship Groups between the Maltese Parliament and the Parliaments of other countries. He also asked the panellists to share best practices for twinning and other forms of friendship groups, both for members of parliament and for parliamentary staff.

The second workshop, titled ‘Accelerating Digital Innovation for Resilience and Growth in Small Jurisdictions’ was chaired by Deputy Speaker David Agius. In his opening remarks, he spoke of the need to leverage technology through innovation and how this is essential for small jurisdictions like Malta, that face unique and compounding challenges like limited resources, reliance on imports and amplified impact of climate change. He also spoke of the need for resilience and of how parliaments play a key role in fostering an environment that encourages innovation and supports economic development.

During the first workshop of the 8^th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference, which debated the political participation of young women and girls, Davina Sammut Hili emphasised the need for more education, more role-models that young girls can look up to, as well a safe space to encourage young women to enter politics. She also mentioned the need to support youth-led initiatives.

The delegation also participated in the election of the new chairperson of the CPA Small Branches. Valerie Woods, Speaker of the Parliament of Belize, was elected.

#MaltaDaily

Glenn Micallef, Malta’s nominee for the European Commission, is set to face a crucial hearing today before the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT). As the youngest nominee for Commissioner, at just 35 years old, Micallef is vying for the role of Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport. His ability to demonstrate competence and expertise in these areas will be critical in passing this stage and advancing toward joining the EU’s executive body.

MEPs from both the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and European People’s Party (EPP) have already voiced strong support for Micallef. In meetings with Maltese journalists, MEPs Hannes Heide (S&D) and Zoltan Tarr (EPP) praised his qualifications and the potential impact he could have on Europe’s cultural and creative sectors.

Heide emphasized that these sectors indirectly support millions of jobs and highlighted Micallef’s dedication to public engagement, while also stressing the importance of youth involvement in policymaking, an area where Micallef is seen as having strong potential. Tarr echoed these sentiments, noting Micallef’s alignment with the Erasmus+ program, which holds significant importance for youth and education in Europe.

While Micallef’s Labour Party affiliation is not expected to be a major factor in the committee’s decision, his understanding of EU structures and policies will play a crucial role. Having served as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Robert Abela and Director General of Malta’s EU Coordination Department, Micallef brings extensive experience in EU affairs. His performance at today’s hearing will shape the committee’s recommendation, which could influence the final parliamentary vote later this month, determining whether Micallef secures this key European Commission role.

You can also WATCH HERE.

#MaltaDaily