Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1526110
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 SEPTEMBER 2024 NEWS KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Glenn Micallef can expect tough grilling if retained as Malta's commissioner-designate GLENN Micallef can expect a tough grilling at the hands of MEPs if the Prime Minister digs his heels and retains him as Malta's European Com- missioner-designate. The 35-year-old former head of secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister lacks executive experience despite his knowledge of Eu- ropean affairs. Robert Abela is under pres- sure from Ursula von der Leyen to replace Micallef with someone who has more experience, and preferably a woman. The European Commission president-designate is ex- pected to present her team of 26 commissioners and their assigned portfolios to the Conference of Presidents in the European Parliament on 11 September. This gives her less than two weeks to try and convince some of the mem- ber states to change their pick, especially given the gen- der imbalance created by a male-dominated team. Micallef is one of the picks Von der Leyen is hoping will be replaced given that he has never held political office. However, if Abela decides to stick by his man, it could be hard for MEPs to see be- yond Micallef's inexperience during grillings expected to take place at the end of Sep- tember. All commissioner-desig- nates will be subjected to parliamentary hearings dur- ing which they will be asked about their prospective port- folio, their beliefs and any- thing else MEPs deem neces- sary. The parliament cannot block individual candidates because it votes on the whole team, which means any ob- jections will have to be ironed out before a vote takes place. There have been multiple instances in the past when c o m m i s s i o n e r - d e s i g n a t e s had to be replaced to ensure the formation of a new Com- mission is not blocked. Sources in Brussels suggest that Von der Leyen may allow parliament to do the hatchet job for her, something MEPs would relish, if she is unable to convince some member states to change their nomi- nations. But Malta's weak pick may also weigh down on the port- folio Micallef could be hand- ed. It is an open secret that Malta is gunning for the new Commission portfolio focus- sing on the Mediterranean, something that also interests Cyprus. It is unclear yet what this portfolio will entail and it could be overshadowed by the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and the mi- gration commissioner. But with Micallef in the spotlight over his inexperience Malta has a weak hand to play. The choice of portfolios is entirely the remit of Von der Leyen but member states will be pushing their own agen- das in a bid to influence her choices. Romania is likely to change its first-choice nomi- nee, a man, with a woman in a bid to negotiate for a more influential portfolio. Micallef was the Prime Minister's second choice af- ter former deputy prime min- ister Chris Fearne withdrew his nomination when crimi- nal charges were filed against him over the Vitals hospitals case last June. Micallef, who graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Malta, worked at the foreign affairs ministry, where he was head of the EU Coordination De- partment and the Brexit Unit. In January 2020, he was ap- pointed European affairs ad- visor to the Prime Minister, acting as his 'sherpa' in Brus- sels. In November 2020, Micallef was appointed head of sec- retariat at the Office of the Prime Minister, a post he held until June 2024 when he resigned. He was named Malta's nom- inee for European Commis- sioner in July, becoming the first Maltese non-minister to be nominated for the role. Commissioner nominations The list includes the political family from which the proposed commissioners hail and their current job. Bulgaria was the only country to propose two names – one male and one female – as requested by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Belgium, which has no working federal government yet, has so far failed to nominate its commissioner. Austria: Magnus Brunner (EPP) - Finance minister Belgium: No nominee has been put forward yet Bulgaria: Ekaterina Zaharieva (EPP) - Ex- foreign minister and Julian Popov (Renew) - Ex-environment minister Croatia: Dubravka Šuica (EPP) - Commissioner Cyprus: Costas Kadis (Independent) - Ex- health minister Czechia: Jozef Síkela (Unknown) - Ex-trade minister Denmark: Dan Jørgensen (PES) - Development minister Estonia: Kaja Kallas (Renew) - Ex-Prime Minister Finland: Henna Virkkunen (EPP) - Ex- education minister France: Thierry Breton (Renew) - Commissioner Germany: Ursula Von der Leyen (EPP) – Commission president Greece: Apostolos Tzitzikostas (EPP) - Ex- President of the European Committee of Regions Hungary: Oliver Várhelyi (Patriots of Europe) - Commissioner Ireland: Michael McGrath (Renew) - Finance minister Italy: Raffaele Fitto (ECR) – Minister for European affairs and cohesion policies Latvia: Valdis Dombrovskis (EPP) - Commissioner Lithuania: Andrius Kubilius (EPP) - MEP Luxembourg: Christophe Hansen (EPP) - MEP Malta: Glenn Micallef (PES) – Ex head of secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister Netherlands: Wopke Hoekstra (EPP) - Commissioner Poland: Piotr Serafin (EPP) - Permanent Representative of Poland to EU Portugal: Maria Luis Albuquerque (EPP) - Ex- finance minister Romania: Victor Negrescu (PES) - MEP Slovakia: Maroš Šefčovič (PES) - Commissioner Slovenia: Tomaž Vesel (Renew) - Deputy President of Slovenian court of audit Spain: Teresa Ribera (PES) – Environment minister Sweden: Jessika Roswall (EPP) – Minister for EU affairs Key dates for new Brussels executive 30 August Deadline for EU member states to propose candidates. 11 September Ursula von der Leyen is expected to present her designated Commission team and portfolios to the Conference of Presidents in the European Parliament. As of 23 September Parliamentary hearings expected to begin a week after the first plenary session of the term. 1 November (best-case scenario) New Commission to be sworn in, if no candidates rejected. 1 December New Commission to be sworn in, if one or more candidates rejected. 1 January (worst-case scenario) New Commission expected to be sworn in due to multiple additional rounds. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Robert Abela in Malta in 2023. Von der Leyen is not too happy with the lack of executive experience of Malta's nominee for European Commissioner, Glenn Micallef.