Newly-designated European Commissioner for youth, culture, sport and intergenerational fairness Glenn Micallef will be tasked with organising a policy dialogue for youths within the first 100 days of his approval, as well as a cyberbullying action plan.

Micallef, 35, was handed a 'mission letter' by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday, after she announced the portfolios for the new term, where Malta lost out in having a representative as a EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean.

Before taking up his job, in December, Micallef will be undergoing scrutiny by MEPs.

Maltatoday reported that von der Leyen tasked Micallef with ensuring that the EU keeps supporting young people and build on what youths have in common and what brings them together in diversity, from cultural heritage to sport at all levels.

Von der Leyen also tasked Micallef to keep in mind future generations when decisions are taken, by using a strategic foresight approach when looking at challenges.

A central part of his role will also be to give "young people a greater freedom and responsibility" within European societies and democracies.

He will be tasked to prepare an intergenerational fairness strategy which highlights how communication between generations can be strengthened, the strategy of which will need to ensure that the interests of present and future generations are respected throughout the EU's law making and policy initiatives.

Von der Leyen's letter also instructed Micallef to take forward initiatives, to ensure that that young people can use their voice to help shape Europe's future, including by coordinating the work of colleagues on the annual youth policy dialogues, the first of which should take place within the first 100 days.

Micallef will also need to help set up the President's Youth Advisory Board to advise on issues that matter to young people, and act as a sounding board for ideas developed by the Commission

Von der Leyen tasked Micallef with the significant task of focusing on the impact of social media and excessive screen time on young people, as well as an action plan against cyberbullying.

Micallef will be expected to contribute to the EU-wide inquiry on the broader impacts of social media. He will also be responsible for the implementation of the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child.

He is expected to develop a new "overarching strategic framework to guide and harness the multiple dimensions of culture" encapsulated as a "culture compass," and is to focus on improving working conditions of artists and cultural professionals, and making is easier for people, particularly the younger generation, to visit and make most of cultural heritage.

Micallef is also expected to prepare a new strategy to strengthen the European sport model based on solidarity, values and competitiveness, as well as strengthen European sport diplomacy by engaging with international partners and the impact of major sporting events.

He is tasked with updating the Council recommendation on physical activity intended to enhance mental wellbeing.

"Given the scale of the challenges and the many issues in our in-tray, we must hit the ground running on day one," Von der Leyen told Micallef, adding that he may get in touch with the relevant services that would fall in his portfolio to prepare for his hearing in the European Parliament.