Latest news with #GlennMicallef
Euronews
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
EU commissioner on European identity, Erasmus Plus, youth engagement and culture
ADVERTISEMENT The EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef shared with Euronews his concerns about potential budget cuts to Erasmus, following reports that some member states had proposed reductions in the 2025 annual budget. Although the budget was ultimately slightly increased, Micallef acknowledged ongoing discussions about the possible impact of the EU's shifting priorities—particularly toward defence and competitiveness—on future funding for cultural and youth initiatives like Erasmus in the 2028 long-term budget. The commissioner emphasized the EU's commitment to strengthening the Erasmus Plus Programme, highlighting its four-decade legacy of fostering European identity among millions of young people. Radio Schuman also brings you to key debates at the European Parliament as well as the situation of affordable housing in the EU. Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalists and production assistants Eleonora Vasques and Lauren Walker, audio editing by David Brodheim. Music by Alexandre Jas.
Euronews
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
"Brussels, my love?" Young & anxious - Europe's silent crisis
ADVERTISEMENT We are joined this week by the EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef, responsible for Inter generational Fairness, Youth, Culture & Sport, Samira Rafaela, Former Dutch MEP, now Visiting Fellow at Cornell University in NYC and Rareș Voicu, the President of the European Youth Forum - an organisation representing 100 youth groups from all over Europe. In this special edition, we take a look and what it is like to young in Europe on the same week the European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen told the German paper Zeit that " the West as we knew it no longer exists ". From cyber bullying to mental health concerns, geopolitical disorder to climate anxiety, young people are drifting away from mainstream politicians, feeling unheard. Glenn Micallef, the EU Commissioner in charge of youth, told the panel that the EU is a 'fantastic reality that millions of Europeans live every day' but more needs to be done to improve the lives of all. "We have already many European Union citizens who indeed identify as being European. But I acknowledge we can do more", he said. The Commissioner, who hails from Malta, also stressed how important the well known student exchange programme, Erasmus+ was when it comes to shaping a real European identity. 'The intention is to strengthen the Erasmus Plus programme, and I want to be quite clear on that,' he said putting rumours possible budget cuts to bed. Panelists debated the importance of making these programmes more accessible. Watch the full episode in the player above!
Euronews
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Commissioner Micallef touts boost for Erasmus+ Programme
ADVERTISEMENT EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef has underlined his commitment to boost the EU's Erasmus+ student exchange programme during an exchange on youth engagement in politics on Euronews' Brussels My Love programme. Micallef holds the portfolio for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport and joined Samira Rafaela, a visiting fellow at Cornell University and former MEP, and Rareș Voicu, President of the European Youth Forum on the programme, which will be aired this weekend. The Commissioner stressed the importance of the flagship student exchange programme, Erasmus+, in shaping a shared European identity and building key skills. 'The intention is to strengthen the Erasmus Plus Programme, and I want to be quite clear on that,' he told host Méabh McMahon, when quizzed on reports of a possible budget cut proposed by EU member states , reaffirming his intention to safeguard the programme. Micallef also said the rise in mental health challenges among Europe's youth was 'worrying'. 'In the European Union, 50% of our youth report to face or have faced mental health challenges ranging from loneliness to anxiety to stress,' he said. He pointed to multiple causes, noting that the number of cases has increased since the COVID-19 crisis. One of his top priorities, he said, would be examining 'the relationship between digital environments and the effects that is having on young people', with a particular focus on social media. He announced plans to launch an 'EU-wide inquiry on the broader effects of social media', which will be followed by an 'action plan on cyberbullying'. The Commissioner suggested that part of the solution could lie in encouraging more physical activity: 'Sport can be quite an important remedy there,' he said. Culture, too, plays a vital role by 'giving young people the space to actually express themselves'. On the cultural front, Micallef spoke about the upcoming 'Cultural Compass' initiative, expected to be unveiled later this year. 'We are a global cultural powerhouse,' he said, citing the reopening of Notre Dame as an occasion for world leaders to gather, adding: 'Culture is an area where we need to continue to focus our priorities.' Addressing youth engagement, Micallef underscored the need to ensure young people have a platform to share their views. 'The views of young people contribute to taking this project from strength to strength. We need to continue to enhance the level of participation of youth across all our policymaking,' he said. You can watch the full debate with Glenn Micallef, Samira Rafaela and Rareș Voicu on the next episode of Brussels, my Love all weekend on Euronews TV or .
Euronews
13-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Most European countries far behind on critical cyber rules
Only seven of the EU's 27 countries have fully transposed cybersecurity rules for critical entities, months after an October deadline, a spokesperson for the European Commission said on Thursday. The spokesperson told Euronews that Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia, Lithuania and Greece have the national rules in place, while six others – Latvia, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Denmark and Poland – have partly introduced the rules. In October, only Belgium and Croatia were ready to apply the Network and Information Security Directive 2 (NIS2), which was approved back in 2022 with the aim to protect critical entities, such as energy, transport, banking, water and digital infrastructures, against major cyber incidents. During a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday, European Commissioner Glenn Micallef – who is in charge of intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport – called on the member states urgently to implement NIS2 as to improve EU preparedness and resilience during hybrid crises - such as the recent attacks on underseas cables in the Baltic Sea. He said the transposition and implementation of the NIS2 directive is 'still slow' as is that of the Critical Entities Resilience Directive, made to protect the functioning of essential services such as energy and transport. 'We continue to support member states and call on them to transpose both directives as soon as possible,' he added. Infringement procedure The Commission sent letters of formal notice in November, which is the first step in an infringement procedure. Countries had until late January to reply, the EU executive is now in the process of reviewing answers, and could decide to take further steps. The government of the Netherlands, one of the countries that failed to meet the deadline, said in a letter to parliament earlier this week that the rules are expected to enter into force in the third quarter of 2025. The Commission propos ed NIS2, an overhaul of NIS1, with the aim to keep up with increased digitisation and an evolving cybersecurity threat landscape. Companies need to issue a warning within 24 hours and deliver an incident report within 72 hours in case of incidents that cause serious operational disruptions. In case of non-compliance, companies face fines up to €10 million, or 2% of worldwide revenue, whichever is higher.
