Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1528951
11 EDITORIAL maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 6 NOVEMBER 2024 GLENN Micallef's grilling at the hands of MEPs went well. He calmly showed that he understood the brief handed to him by European Commis- sion President Ursula von der Leyen and dis- played sensitivity to the "diverse cultural tapes- try" that makes up the EU. His young age – at 35, he is the youngest member of Von der Leyen's team – was not considered a stumbling block by MEPs and his lack of executive experience was not men- tioned once as he navigated relatively calm waters. Micallef appeared well-briefed and knowl- edgeable on the various cultural, educational and youth-oriented programmes and initia- tives at EU level. He made a strong case for addressing youth disengagement from politics by "giving them a seat at the table". Without being antagonistic, he skilfully re- affirmed the EU's values of tolerance, diversi- ty, equality and the rule of law when far-right MEPs tried to trip him up with questions on trans female athletes participating in female sports and Erasmus+ funding cuts for Hun- garian universities. But he also acknowledged the inevitable; much of his portfolio concerns areas that are of national competence and any action re- quired of him will grossly depend on the deliv- ery by other commissioners. Micallef is tasked to coordinate the youth dialogues involving other commissioners. He is also tasked to push through a plan to combat cyber bullying and reduce harmful screen time of children and young people but even these areas require action from other commissioners. In many other aspects, Micallef's role within the commission will pretty much be one of co- ordination and encouraging member states to adopt plans, guidelines and safeguards in their national actions. In sports, he will serve as the EU's ambassador at large. Nonetheless, Micallef rose to the occasion and promised constant engagement with par- liament, fellow commissioners and member states if approved. He delivered an honest appraisal of his portfolio, its opportunities and limitations, and promised to address the challenges with enthusiasm and energy. In his calmness he projected confidence. There was nothing in Micallef's performance that should serve as a stumbling block for his eventual appointment as European Commis- sioner. And there is nothing to suggest that he will not be able to grow into the 'big shoes' of European governance. However, no matter how good Micallef's performance was and how well he will do in the next five years, the fact remains that Mal- ta ended up with an ineffectual portfolio – it does not even include education, media and R&D; areas that previously formed part of the culture and sports portfolio. There is no doubt that Micallef's lack of ex- ecutive experience played heavily into Von der Leyen's decision to hand him a portfolio where EU competencies are limited. It is in- deed, the weakest portfolio Malta has ever bagged since joining the EU in 2004. Malta had been gunning for the new Medi- terranean and southern neighbourhood port- folio after having promoted the idea. It would have been an interesting challenge to craft something meaningful from such a portfolio, especially after Malta's successful member- ship of the UN Security Council and head- ship of the OSCE. Instead, the Mediterranean portfolio went to Croatia in what was a clear snub by Von der Leyen. But every dark cloud has a silver lining. Mi- callef's nomination enabled the Nationalist Party to play ball. It was positive that the PN supported Micallef's nomination albeit ex- pressing misgivings about the lack of an influ- ential portfolio. Indeed, it would have been puerile and po- litically suicidal for the PN to try and scupper Micallef's chances, especially since he has no skeletons in his cupboard. Seeing David Ca- sa applaud Micallef at the start and end of his performance in front of MEPs was a welcome show of maturity and national unity when it mattered. This leader wishes Micallef every success in his new role and we can only hope that he ex- its the next five years having been a thorn in the side of fellow commissioners to deliver on policies and pledges he is tasked to coordinate. A confident performance maltatoday MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR: KURT SANSONE EDITOR: PAUL COCKS Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt deserves juridical protection, is not equal to that of a per- son since it only becomes one with birth. So what are we to make of that "juridical protection"? It follows that the embryo is indeed a human being for the reason that his or her life is human. While the embryo cannot hold any human rights, this restriction does not mean that it cannot aspire to some kind of protection, which we can designate as "objective pro- tection." And certainly, it does not mean that embryos are ex- cluded from human dignity, given that the mere fact of be- longing to a human species is enough to extend to them the value and respect inherent in human dignity. Yet, across the EU, regret- tably, such value and respect are nowhere to be seen. Developing human life is sacred even before it conquers the status of personhood, and it is imperative to consider the objective value of human life from its very beginning, even before the acquisition of rights and interests