The responsibilities assigned by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Maltese Commissioner-designate Glenn Micallef are neither weak nor of secondary importance. They have the potential to be as forceful and as strong as any other set of responsibilities within the EU Commission. At the end of the day, it will all depend on the political will of the EU Commission to implement what is right.

Some have already commented about the youth, culture and sport aspects of Micallef's proposed portfolio. Micallef himself has spoken enthusiastically about youth dialogue within the European Union. In her mission letter addressed to Glenn Micallef, von der Leyen emphasises that his task will be "to ensure we keep supporting young people and build on what we have in common and what brings us together in diversity, from our cultural heritage to sports at all levels."

The EU Commission President then proceeds to task Glenn Micallef with ensuring that within the European Union In her mission letter, Ursola von der Leyen underlines that solidarity between generations is a very significant task emanating from the Treaties of the Union.

Clearly, solidarity between generations is the primary responsibility which the Maltese Commissioner-designate Glenn Micallef is being tasked with. It is a cross-cutting topic which theoretically could lead to a number of tough and radical decisions, which, I sincerely doubt whether the current coalition supporting von der Leyen would be able to stomach.

In fact, intergeneration fairness has not been adequately tackled to date, neither within the European Union nor in the individual member states themselves, Malta included. Elevating this responsibility to an EU Commissioner level is right and proper. As a result, it stands a better chance of being acted upon. At the end of the day, this is what the politics of sustainable development is all about: ensuring that today's politics lead to a better tomorrow. Hopefully.

During the preparatory meetings for the Rio 1992 Earth Summit, Malta had submitted a proposal in order to recognise the principle of future generation rights in the Rio declaration. 32 years ago, this Maltese proposal was shot down.

The reason for this is found in the Brundtland seminal UN report Our Common Future which in 1987 had explained that "We act as we do because we can get away with it: future generations do not vote; they have no political or financial power; they cannot challenge our decisions." Hence, they are generally ignored: they cannot react, they cannot speak up. Micallef's task will be to give a voice to those who cannot vote or speak and are thus continuously ignored.

We have to ensure that the way we act today does not in any way prejudice the rights of future generations to be in a position to make their own choices and decisions. This is definitely not an easy task.

Von der Leyen tells Micallef that he has to ensure that "decisions are taken with future generations in mind." The decisions we take today must factor in the future. In particular, he will have to speak up on behalf of future generations when current or contemplated policies give rise to long-term risks that are not being adequately addressed. He would have to continuously emphasise that it is unethical for present generations to reap the benefits and then shift the consequence of their actions on future generations.

In a political world dominated by short-term thinking, we urgently need to focus on a long-term view, as a result ensuring that the future is not discounted.

In his book The Good Ancestor Roman Krznaric asks a very pointed question: "Will our legacy to future generations be one that benefits them or will be it be one that cripples them?" This is the question to which the European Union must be in a position to provide an answer, day in day out. This will be Glenn's task. It is not easy but it is of primary importance as it is only through making sure that our actions today are sustainable that we can ensure that there is a future to worry about.