The New European Commission: Inequalities And Malta’s Potential New Commissioner
As the deadlines for nominations of the new Commissioners are around the corner, 22 countries have put forth their nominations with five remaining uncertain. Many are worried about how unevenly split the nominations are, with 13 so far being from the EPP party. Apart from this, from the 22 nominations thus far, only six are women.
This has raised concerns in the European Parliament, which will need to approve every Commissioner except the president. The chair of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in the European Parliament, Socialist MEP Lina Gálvez voiced her concerns about this. “It would be ‘inconsistent’ for the Parliament to support such a situation,” she stated. This would be surprising given that earlier this year, three women were entrusted in charge of three main EU institutions. To combat this, von der Leyen asked each country to send a male and a female candidate and to send experienced politicians, when announcing the deadline for the nominations.
Image Credits: Euronews 2024
Malta was one of the countries that went against these wishes, nominating one male non-politician. Glenn Micallef was nominated by Prime Minister Robert Abela last July. Micallef is the first ever ‘non-politician’ Maltese nominee for EU Commissioner. He currently is the PM’s advisor on EU affairs and held position of Director General of Malta’s EU Coordination Department. Micallef also held the role of Robert Abela’s chief of staff until he stepped down last June.
While many, both Maltese and European politicians, have doubted this abrupt decision as Micallef was chosen after Chris Fearne had to stand trial. These speculations arise from Micallef’s lack of political experience, incurring doubts that Malta might get a “third-rate” Commission portfolio. Especially after Helena Dalli, the outgoing Maltese EU Commissioner, held the Equality portfolio.
What portfolio do you think will Malta be allocated?
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