More than 73% of all land transferred to the Government under the 1991 Agreement with the Holy See will have been registered by the end of this year, Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government Owen Bonnici announced during a visit to the Joint Office.

The agreement, signed between the Government of Malta and the Holy See, stipulates that immovable property not required by the Church for pastoral purposes be transferred to the Government for public use, particularly for social needs.

Minister Bonnici stated that the Joint Office remains on track to reach its target of registering 90% of the transferred properties by 2027. The office is expected to register 80% of the properties by the end of 2026, following the 73% milestone expected this year.

During his visit, the Minister thanked Joint Office employees for their continued dedication and emphasised the Government's commitment to ensuring that state-owned properties are fully registered. He explained that this process provides greater certainty and allows the state to allocate properties for public purposes such as social, health, educational, and housing projects.

Bonnici also highlighted the digitalisation of the registration system, describing it as a significant step in modernising how property is transferred in Malta. He noted that the 1991 agreement remains historic not only for its role in shaping relations between the Church and the Government but also for its lasting social impact.