EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces the New College of Commissioners
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has just announced the new College of Commissioners for the next five years. Among the highlights, Malta’s Glenn Micallef, the youngest nominee, will take on the EU portfolio for intergenerational fairness, youth, culture, and sport.
Micallef served as Chief of Staff to Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, from 2020 to 2024. He hails from the Labour Party, which developed Malta’s current cultural policy and the Charter of the Status of the Artist.
The Commissioners-designate will undergo hearings in the European Parliament, which must approve the College of Commissioners as a whole. Afterward, they will be formally appointed by the European Council and are set to take office at the end of 2024.
The Commission President has also released the mission letters for all new commissioners. Micallef’s letter outlines the following key priorities for culture:
- Developing a new "Culture Compass," an overarching strategic framework for culture.
- Improving working conditions for artists and cultural professionals.
- Unlocking the competitiveness potential of cultural and creative industries.
- Developing an AI strategy for the cultural and creative sectors.
- Enhancing access to heritage, particularly for young people.
