Glenn Micallef to face MEPs in committee grilling on November 4
Questions for the commissioner-designate will be led by the committee for Culture and Education, but MEPs from the employment, civil liberties, and legal affairs committee will also be present
10 October 2024, 12:59pm
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
3 min read
Glenn Micallef (left) was head of secretariat in the office of Prime Minister Robert Abela (right)
The Maltese commissioner-designate Glenn Micallef will be the first nominee to the European executive to be grilled by a parliamentary committee of MEPs that will assess his suitability for the role, on 4 November, ahead of a general vote in the plenary.
As commissioner-designate for intergenerational solidarity, youth, culture, and sport, Micallef will be fielding questions from MEPs from the lead committee Culture and Education, but other MEPs from the committees covering employment and social affairs, civil liberties, justice and home affiars, and legal affairs will be present for the committee hearing.
The 35-year-old former head of secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister lacks executive experience despite his knowledge of European affairs.
Micallef will be expected to head a portfolio that focuses on the role of art and culture in improving the resilience and well-being of people and society, and supporting fairness and social inclusion, which includes both physical and mental health. Yet none of the areas have EU competence but rather mostly member state competence, which means barely any legislative acts can come out of the portfolio. Most of the funding under these sectors will still be managed by another commissioner.
Nationalist MEP Peter Agius said the timing of Micallef’s committee hearing could bode well for the young nominee,.
“This puts Micallef in a slightly more advantageous position as he will have a hearing in a more neutral setting, before ‘the knives are out’ – if we come to that at all – in other hearings.
“Naturally all will depend on Mr Micallef’s competence on the portfolio at the hearing. We want competent commissioners to implement the will of the people as expressed on 8 June. We will certainly not give discounts on competence,” Agius told MaltaToday.
Labour MEP Daniel Attard said Micallef’s portfolio on intergenerational fairness would provide a crucial long-term perspective on these and many other challenges.
“When you consider that some of the most pressing European debates revolve around climate change, high debt ratios in numerous economies, and the risks of conflict on the continent, creating a portfolio focused on intergenerational fairness within the European Commission is truly a forward-thinking initiative.”
Attard added that it was paradoxical to require extensive political experience for a role that is inherently meant to represent the interests of the younger generation.
“Glenn is an excellent candidate for this position because, while he possesses valuable experience navigating the political corridors of Brussels and knows the political process inside-out, he is also a representative of the younger generation – bringing fresh ideas and the representation of a generation of people who will live with the long-term consequences of today’s politics.”
Calendar for the hearings of Commissioners-designate.
The hearings will take place from 4 to 12 November.
The European Parliament President and political group leaders adopted a detailed schedule of which Commissioner-designate will be heard by which committees and at which time slot.
European Parliament leaders also adopted the written questions prepared by the different committees that Commissioners-designate should reply to by 22 October 2024.
Each hearing will be followed by a meeting in which the Chairs of the Committees and group representatives (coordinators) concerned will evaluate the performance of the Commissioner-designate they just heard.
After the completion of the evaluation process, the Conference of Committee Chairs will assess the outcome of all hearings and forward its recommendation to the Conference of Presidents. The latter will exchange views and decide whether to close the hearings in its meeting on 21 November; it will also decide to place the vote on the College as a whole on the plenary agenda.
The full Commission needs to be elected by a simple majority of the votes cast in plenary, by roll call. The vote is currently scheduled to take place during the (25-28) November session in Strasbourg.
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
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