Lands Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi said that in the coming days, details will be announced on government's plans for extending land registration across the whole country, with a more effective Land Registry.

Zrinzo Azzopardi spoke in Parliament during the Budget estimates of his Ministry, saying that the country needs to make a "quality leap" in land registration.

He spoke of the original law which came into effect under a Labour government in 1982, with the aim of modernising how property transfers are conducted.

After 40 years since the law's enactment, only 56% of all land in Malta and Gozo has been registered, the Minister said.

"It is now time to ensure that the system linked to the Land Registry is extended across the entire country," Zrinzo Azzopardi said, adding that this is not a process that can happen overnight, and in the coming days, he will be providing more detail on government's plans for the future.

He said that the Land Registration Agency is doing significant work, which has increased after government registered Church lands in its name, and will now be classified as Registration Lands.

Zrinzo Azzopardi gave examples of the Agency's work, noting that this year it received over 20,000 requests for searches.

He said that government must continue investing in the Agency and will ensure it has a strategy with clear short- and long-term goals to fully registrate all lands in Malta.

He stressed that this change must be implemented carefully, starting with clear explanations about the intended goals.

Zrinzo Azzopardi said that collaboration from all stakeholders in the country is necessary to transform and modernise how property transfers are conducted.

"There is a need for the widest possible national consensus, as this is a process that requires time. It must be ensured that once this project begins, we provide the country with the change that has not yet been achieved," Zrinzo Azzopardi said.

In his speech, Zrinzo Azzopardi said that 60% of the 230 measures in next year's Budget address proposals from Labour's electoral programme.

He mentioned the need to strengthen Lands through both legislation and administrative renewal.

"More effectiveness and efficiency are needed in the processes, including those still stemming from before the Authority was established," Zrinzo Azzopardi said.

He continued that experience shows that certain difficulties arise because people do not have enough information, for example, about what they can apply for, how they can apply, and what the Authority's powers are.

Zrinzo Azzopardi explained how important the digitization process is within the Authority's operations to increase its efficiency, saying that of a total of 150,000 files the Authority has, 46,000 have already been scanned.

He spoke about strengthening the authority's human resources, mentioning that it has about 70 architects employed following various public calls.

They carry out tasks such as evaluations for expropriations, lands issued via tenders, and lease renewal procedures.

He also said that the authority has around 18 law students who are not only assisting in the authority's work but also gaining valuable training in the field.

Zrinzo Azzopardi spoke about the various government initiatives this year, including a scheme through which local councils pay a maximum of €500 for rents on buildings they acquire from the government.

He mentioned devolutions made to several local councils, including those in Birżebbuġa and St. Paul's Bay, to build facilities for their communities' use, as well as devolutions to Agenzija Sapport for its social projects, property in Valletta for services needed by the LGBTIQ+ community, and Villa Alcarez in Sliema for a day centre for young people with disabilities.

He said that land previously designated for development was transferred to Project Green for the creation of open space projects.

Regarding agricultural land, Zrinzo Azzopardi said that too many processes related to this land have accumulated, and he will work to expedite the processing of applications.

Over the next year, the government will expand existing schemes to provide necessary support for agriculture and ensure security of tenure for those involved, he said.

He also said that government will seek to expand schemes related to emphyteusis since those currently in place primarily cover properties originating from Church lands.

The way forward will involve offering more emphyteusis schemes to the public so that applicants are informed on what such agreements will entail, Zrinzo Azzopardi said.

Another topic the Minister discussed was the expropriation of lands, particularly those used for Home Ownership schemes.

He said there are still 80 cases of plots where contracts with landowners have not yet been finalised. There are 40 plots in Mosta involved in a court case, and the process is ongoing to finalise contracts and payments exceeding €8 million.

Zrinzo Azzopardi said that work is being done by the Joint Office to register Church properties that, under the 1991 agreement between the government and the Holy See, must be transferred to the government.

So far, 67% of these properties have been registered, and government wants to increase this figure to 90% within the next two to three years.

He said that this year, the Joint Office was granted legal personality as a Specialized Body under the Public Administration Act.