Government ‘pleased’ Malta’s European commissioner to deal with ‘present and future’

The government said that the appointment of Glenn Micallef as European Commissioner responsible for youth, sport, culture and intergenerational fairness will enable him to have an impact both on the present and the future.

The portfolio is made up of themes dear to the government and high on its agenda, the government said in a statement.

Malta had targeted the post of Commissioner for the Mediterranean, but this was handed to the nominee from Croatia. The Maltese government had been criticised for nominating someone with little experience in politics after the government’s original choice, Chris Fearne, withdrew after he was charged with criminal offences related to the hospitals’ deal.

In its statement, the government said Malta had been given “an important” portfolio which deals with aspects that are vital for a better quality of life.

Abela placed himself in weak position to negotiate better European portfolio, PN says

While wishing every success to Malta’s European Commissioner, the Nationalist Party said Tuesday that Prime Minister Robert Abela used the appointment to protect himself from the internal pressures of the Labour Party. This put the PM in too much of a weak position to be able to demand a better portfolio for Malta’s representative, the PN said.

In a statement, the PN notes the responsibility given to the Maltese Commissioner Glenn Micallef, named as responsible for youth and culture.

The PN noted that Abela used the post of European Commissioner to protect himself from the internal pressures within the Labour Party, and he refused the request by the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to nominate someone with ministerial experience, including from within his own Cabinet.

He also refused to submit the name of a woman for consideration for the role of Commissioner. The Prime Minister also ignored the call made by Maltese constituted bodies regarding the choice of the Maltese Commissioner, the PN said.

With this dispute, Robert Abela placed himself in a weak position and could not negotiate for the Commissioner to be given more responsibilities than those assigned. Youth, culture, and sport are important because the future of our country and Europe depends on their ambitions and desires, but Robert Abela was not in a position to negotiate for the Maltese Commissioner to be granted additional responsibilities such as the Mediterranean, beyond what is being proposed. This is not how a Prime Minister should behave.

While the Partit Nazzjonalista has always worked to raise our country’s name in Europe, Robert Abela can only think of himself without looking at the long-term. The PN reiterates its best wishes to Glenn Micallef and hopes that he will be a voice that recognises Malta’s potential as a Member State of the European Union.