(AGENPARL) – lun 04 novembre 2024 None [1] Press service ** European Parliament **
Available in * None [2] None [3]
Press release 04-11-2024 CULT   None [4] Hearing of Commissioner-designate Glenn Micallef
The Committee on Culture and Education questioned Glenn Micallef, Maltese candidate for the Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport portfolio, on Monday.
The chair and political group coordinators will meet at 18.30 to assess the performance and qualification of the Commissioner-designate.
In his introductory speech [5], Mr Micallef presented his plans to ensure intergenerational fairness, respond to the needs of future generations, and protect young people, particularly their mental health. He also stressed the need to support the creative industry and cultural sector, particularly by better addressing the challenge of Artificial Intelligence. Mr Micallef laid out his plans for encouraging sports participation, as a way to promote a healthy lifestyle among Europeans.
Culture: improve working conditions for artists and ensure copyright protection*
MEPs quizzed the commissioner-designate about the follow up to Parliament’s work on the social and professional situation of artists and other workers in the cultural and creative sectors. Tackling poor working conditions that affect the sector competitiveness is a priority, said Mr Micallef, announcing his intention to assess the remaining legislative gaps in this area in his first month and to organise annual thematic workshops with EU member states.
They also asked about the copyright protection for music creators. The commissioner-designate promised to lead a so-called “Culture Compass” – a strategic framework to harness the different dimensions of culture -, one strand of which would aim to address this specific issue that significantly impacts the sector.
The challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence and how to ensure the culture sector receives strong support from the EU’s multiannual budget were other issues raised in the discussion. MEPs also questioned about the Commission’s plans to guarantee artistic freedom of expression across the EU.
Sport: a tool for inclusion and healthy lifestyles*
MEPs also put forward several questions focused on sports as a strategic promotor of inclusion and diversity in the EU, as well as a means to promote healthy lifestyles. They asked Mr Micallef about the professional dimension of sport, including his views on the proposal to set up a European football Superleague and on football transfer rules.
Other issues raised by MEPs included the EU’s response to cyber-bullying and addressing youth mental health, the rights of children, and youth unemployment.
Watch the video recording of the full hearing [6] .
Press point*
At the end of the hearing, the Chair of the Culture Committee, Ms Nela Riehl, held a press point outside the meeting room [7] .
Next steps*
Based on the committee recommendations, the Conference of Presidents (EP President Metsola and political group chairs) is set to conduct the final evaluation and declare the hearings closed on 21 November. Once the Conference of Presidents declares all hearings closed, the evaluation letters will be published.
The election by MEPs of the full college of Commissioners (by a majority of the votes cast, by roll-call) is currently scheduled to take place during the 25-28 November plenary session in Strasbourg.
  –> Further information None [8] Official documents: Glenn Micallef None [9] Dedicated website to the 2024 hearings None [10] Multimedia package: Hearing of Glenn Micallef, commissioner-designate for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport None [11] EP research briefing on Glenn Micallef’s portfolio None [12] Committee on Culture and Education None [13] Timetable of all the hearings None [14] Rules on the approval of the Commission None [15] Glenn Micallef during confirmation hearing 2024 ©European Union, 2024 – Source: EP