Malta's European Commissioner Glenn Micallef said that mental health is a fundamental right, and is a reality that "we cannot ignore".

He cited figures showing that one in two young people today experiences loneliness, anxiety, or stress, among other mental illnesses.

The solution, he said in an interview with this media house, must be comprehensive. "Housing insecurity alone can cause anxiety. We must have tools to address this. And we must also look at the role of culture and sport in mental health," Micallef said.

Micallef was appointed as Malta's representative on the European Commission last year, succeeding Helena Dalli. He took over the role for the next five years last December.

He said that sports are in fact, crucial for mental health, as it offers healthier alternatives to screen time, and help both physical and mental wellbeing.

He also cited WHO research linking cultural participation to better mental health.

"We have seen programmes across EU countries using culture to combat mental health challenges. These best practices must be shared and scaled," Micallef said.

He said that his office is working with the Commissioner for Health to prioritise mental health at EU level.

Turning to sport, Micallef said that he believes it is a powerful political and social tool, but only if it remains accessible.

"For me, sport is about values: inclusion, equality, and human rights. That is the power of the Olympics and Paralympics, they bring people together to celebrate those values," Micallef said.

He said that grassroots sports have suffered, as after the pandemic, the number of volunteers, who are crucial for local sports clubs, dropped significantly.

He stressed the importance of the EU sports model, which promotes solidarity between elite and grassroots sports.

"You cannot have elite sport without grassroots sport, and vice versa," Micallef said.

He said that Erasmus+ already funds sports initiatives, and Member States can use structural funds to invest in sports infrastructure.

"Next Generation EU allowed many countries to do just that. Now we must encourage more Member States to invest, to make sport more accessible and tackle inactivity," Micallef said.

Asked about criticism that Erasmus mostly benefits the privileged, Micallef defended the programme.

"Erasmus is one of the EU's most successful stories. Since 1987, around 16 million people have participated," Micallef said.

The next step, he said, is to expand vocational education exchanges. "We must make sure it reaches a wider cross-section of society," Micallef said.

He also spoke of DiscoverEU, which allows young people to travel across the EU and experience its diversity and different cultures.

"These projects are about strengthening European identity," Micallef said, adding that these programmes leave an impact.

The first part of the interview was carried in The Malta Independent on Sunday yesterday.