Glenn Micallef, of Maltese nationality, has been appointed by the President of the European Commission to take up the post of Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport.
A member of the Labour Party and the Socialist and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, he headed up the European Coordination Department in the Maltese Ministry for European Affairs, and from 2020 was Adviser on EU Affairs to the Prime Minister.
“Few areas are as close to EU citizens’ daily lives and experiences as youth, intergenerational fairness, sport, and culture”, said Glenn Micallef on X. Its mandate is in line with the European Union’s efforts to strengthen social ties through these topics, while also addressing the issues of an ageing population and inclusivity of young people.
Mr Micallef’s portfolio, although dedicated to Culture, Youth and Sport, is now separate from that of Education, which in the previous legislature (2019–2024) was combined with these areas.
Responsibility for education will be taken over by Romanian Social Democrat Roxana Mînzatu, who has been nominated for the position of Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness. She will be responsible for key issues such as skills, education, quality jobs and social rights.
Glenn Micallef will therefore be working closely with Ms Mînzatu, who will be responsible for “guiding all work aimed at strengthening Europe’s human capital” (see EUROPE 13484/5).
One of the major challenges for Mr Micallef will be to ensure that younger generations find their place in an ageing Europe, by putting forward policies that promote intergenerational integration and equal opportunities.
He will need to develop policies to facilitate young people's access to the labour market, in particular through programmes such as Erasmus+ and the ‘reinforced Youth Guarantee’ – an EU initiative to help young people access employment, training or education – while promoting the acquisition of skills adapted to the new needs of the market.
Mr Micallef will also be working on intergenerational solidarity, encouraging mentoring initiatives and projects that bring together young people and senior citizens.
In addition, Glenn Micallef will use culture and sport to try and promote a sense of European belonging, using these vectors as means of social inclusion and improving general well-being.
Mr Micallef's mission statement on the cultural plan includes strengthening the European creative industry by encouraging the production and distribution of cultural content that is accessible to all.
He might also promote initiatives that support the mobility of artists and cultural professionals across Europe, while encouraging the development of collaborative projects between different European countries. The aim will be to make culture a factor for unity and inclusion, while helping young people to express their creativity.
The hearings phase before the European Parliament is now beginning and will be decisive for the final composition of the new College, which is due to take up its duties on 1 December.
The mission statement for Glenn Micallef can be read here: https://aeur.eu/f/dh4 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)