ACT No. IV of 1992 AN A eT IQ provitk for I~ implementation of Ih~ A~nf siKn~ on the 28th tkly of November, 1991, be~enlhe HQ/y Su and Ma/ro ullllive /0 IM Ir(Jrufu 10 the Slole of Juch immovable propuly in Molla as is 'IQt required by IM Clllhvik Church for pastortJ/

(LS .)

C:ENSU T ABONE

12th June, ]992

ACT No. IV of 1992

AN A eT IQ provitk for I~ implementation of Ih~ A~nf siKn~ on

the 28th tkly of November, 1991, be~enlhe HQ/y Su and Ma/ro

ullllive /0 IM Ir(Jrufu 10 the Slole of Juch immovable propuly in

Molla as is 'IQt required by IM Clllhvik Church for pastortJ/

,,,,d

on the dele,minmio;n of cala;" isJ"a pertaining /0 the

purposes

rd(J(ion$ bm"" en the Church and the Stall! as ,,,cards matters of

patrimony.

BE IT ENACfED by the President, by and with Ihe advice and

consent of Ihe House of Representatives. in this present Parliament

assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follo,",s:-

I. This Act may be ciled as the Ecclesiastical Entities (Propt'rti es)

Act , 1992.

Enlijic l Ekklesjasli(;i.

1. F'dan I· AII sah mm ir·r1Ib,. lal.kliem ma tdnieg,: xon'ohrl

~cnli c kk1esjasli ku~ tfiSKr ;sliluzzjoni lal-Knisja Kalloli ka

App0510lika Rumana rMalla, stood kif jipprovdi I-Kodj(;i

Kanoni ku ;

"FteltimH tfi~iiCr il·Ftchim maghmul bejn is-Santa Se<ic u

Malta. iffirmal fit-28 la' Novcmbru , 19'91 . dwar it·trasfcri mentlil1-

Istat la' dik il -proprjdA im mobbli rMalta li ma hijic~ mehlje~a

miJl· Knisja Kalloli ka glial skopijic l pastorali ; U gIIad-dcfiniujoni

la' terti kwestjortijid li ghandltom ~'jaqsmu mar-rclaujonijiel bein

il-Kn;sja u I-Isut dwar proprjcl~ : Iiema Fle him tie magl'tmul riewg

originali ft·ilsna Ingllt u Taljan. II-testta' dan il·Fle him (mingbajr I·

an~ssi licghu) hu riprodoll ft·iskeda ghal dan I·Att. Kopja lal -

Flchim giet imqieghda fuq il- Mejda lal· Kamr1l fid·29 la'

Novembru. 19'9 I , u fi l.2S la ' M ~jju. 1992 (in kw~nl u ghaU·anncssi);

Mjum slabbili t W lfisse r dak il-j um li fih il·Gvcrn ta' Malta u s-

Santa Scdc jiskambjaw komunika:n:joni ufficjal; I; ,.

implimenlazzjoni shitla lad-dispmizzjonij ict kollha tal- Ftehim

Ikun sarel bis-loIIhha la'l-istrumcnt; legal; ~icrqa slr.ond is-sistem a

guridiku la" tu]] wicbed. !I-Prim Minisuu ghandu b"avvjj: fil-

Gazzena jaghti oolifi kazz}oni la' dan il-jum hckk stabbi lit;

MKumitat ta' Kontroll w lfisser il-kumilat imwaqqaf skond I·

ani kolu 17 ta]· Ftehim;

MUffictju Kongunl- 1rlMe r J-uffiocju mwaqqaf bjs..salih a la' 1-

artikolu 4 ta' dan I-An .

(&c/imI 2)

(Text of the Agreement in Engl ish and Italian)

The HOLY SEE and tlte REPUBUCOFMALTA ,

considering, on the pan of the Holy See, the principles dcdared by ll1e Second

Ecumenical Vatican Council and enforced by the Code of Canon Law concerning Ihe

use of temporal goods belonging to ecclesiastical entities: the panicular circumstances

1ha1 characterize Ihe pastoral decisionsoflheChurch in Malta: the needs resulting from

the commitment to evangelization and charity, also with reference 10 Ihe criteria

approved in 1973 for Ihe administrative rdonn in the Ecdesiastical Province of Malta;

the exigencies of the oommon good of Maltese society, abo.'e all with regard 10 major

social expectations;

and considering also , on the pan o{llle RepublicofMalta, the need lofacilitate Ihe

application to social purpose" orllle propeny of ecclesiastical entities

have decided 10 enter into the present Agreement On the transfer to the State of

such immovable ecclesiastical property as is not required for pastoral pu~s and on

the determination of certai n ;";ues pertaining to the relations between the Church and

the State as regards maUeTS of patrimony.

Wherefore, the Holy See, as represented by Msgr . Pier Luigi Celata. titular

Archbishop of Doclea, Apostolic Nuncio to Malta, and the Republic of Malta. as

represented by Or Edward Fenech Adami . Prime Minister. have by oommon accord

establiShed as follows

Article 1

\. All the immovable property belonging to ecclesiastical entities in Malta and

Gozo is transferred to the State, with the exception of that described hereund<:r

(a) the property which, as attested to by means of a dcclaration or in the

judgement of the ecclesiastical Autllorities

(i) is currently used (Annex I), Or foreseen to be IJ.<;eful in future

(Annex 2). for the institutional purposes of the ecclesiastical entities that

posses.s it or of other ecclesiastical entities;

(ii) is contiguous to, oroverloolc:ing, or in anyway connected with . any

property mentioned in Annexes I and 2. or is subject to or enjoys casement

Over it (Annex 3);

(iii) is the ob;ect of a promise of sale, emphyteusis or alienation under

any other title that was entered into before the date of the present Agreemen t

and that is still binding, and has been presented for due approval to the Holy

See (Annell4)

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(b) tile temporary Ulik dornilliwn and tile right of usufruct of property

belon ging \0 third parties;

(c) properly which is required for the purpose of .,:.change as mentioned in

artic le 10 (Annex 5);

(d) propel'1)' QDnnectcd with particular circumstances (Annex 6).

2. Ecclesiastical property lo be tramfcrred lothe Stale in tcrmsofparagraph I of

this an icle. which is the subject-mattc r of 11 la""",i, 10 which an cu:lesia5'licaJ enti ty is a

party. sllat! not be transferred to the Slate bdon: RICh suit is determined by means of a

final judgement oror a com promise bc[W~n the parti6.

Artkle 1

I . The Government shall use the property transferred 10 it by virtue of the

present Agreemen t to promote the safeguarding of the environment and the

development of agriculture. and to meet the Coun try's most pressing social

req uiremen ts. SUoCh as social housilll and public utilities. as well as for humanitarian ,

ed ucational and cultural purposes. The aims and activities of political partics and o f

e ntit ies di rectly or indirectly connected wilh lhem arc 1101. however. 10 be considered

among such purposes in lhe interprelation of this article.

2. This$ame propeny shall not be ullnsfem:d. direalyOf indill:(1 ly. topersomor

e ntities whose nawre, aims and activi tkl arc 1101 in oonformitywith the moral teachings

o rlhe Church.

J. The transfer of this same propeny by the State, for Ihe purposes se t out in

paragraph I of this Article. shall be mode by tender afte r a call for same in the Malla

Go"emmenl Gazelle or. in the ~ OOf"Ilemplaled by law. on Ihe basis of a graduated

so:ale o f points or by lot and . saving what is la id down in this article. shall be effecled also

accord ing 10 lhe p~m of the Disposal of Goverrunent Land ACI. I "'6Of. in case of

lOl al or panial rcpeal of this la w. in coo fonnity with ils basic principles.

Article 1

AS on the date of coming inlo force of the prese nl Agreemenl all the property at

presenl in IIle possession of ecdcsiastical entities. whether reta ined by them or

Iransfen ed 10 tile State b)' virtue of tile presenl Agree ment

(a) is deemed for all intents and purposes as having been already registered

with ab50lule titlc fOf 1i1c purposcsof the ~ Regislralion Act. 1981 . saving any

rights belonging to third part ies. ""Third parties" is undellitood 10 refer 10 persons

ot her than the Government or any other public entity and the Church or any

ecclesiastical entity. Each party recognizes for all purposes lhe lille of the other

pmly to propeny il rclains or acquires in accordance " 'i th the lennsofthe ~nl

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(b) The ann ual ralC of interesl of slICh bollds shaU be revised upon Ihe lapse

of every period of IWO years, Slarting from lhe date of cmi$sion of the same bonds,

in such a way as 10 maintain il at one peroentage poinl lower Ihan Ihe nonnal

ma~imum lellding ralC of in!ercst allowed by law, it being uOOer$tood that it cannot

rail below sevcn pe r cenlum.

(c) On the dale of matu rity, the same bonds shall be redeemed by the

Government al a prcmium of tcn per cen tum ove r their nominal val ue.

(d) 'The said bollds may be free ly sold 10 the public with the prior

aUlhorization of the Maltoc Episcopal Conference, up to a lotal nominal value of

nOI more than live million Mallese liri per annum, Beyond Ihis amounl , these

bonds may be lramfcrred only with the authorization of the Ministry of Finance.

The transfer of bonds be lWec:n ccclcsiastical enlilies. however, does nol req uire

such authorization, is 001 taken inlo account in the computation of the total

amounl Iha l can be: transfem:d annually and shall be exempt from duty Of!

documen ts.

2. (a) On the date whe:n the: present ~ment c:omcs into foroe. the

G O\'emrnenl shall delivcr 10 the Ma lloc Epi5ropal Conference. which shall in lurn

transmit to tho$c enti tled 10 them , certilicales for the total nominal value equal to

nine tyfi~e percenlum of the IOtal value of the: propeny lransferred 10 lile Slale , as

detennincd aa:ording to Annexes 7 and 11 mentioned in anidc 5.

(b) On completion of lhe procedures required for the tr.ln$fcr of all the

property to the Statc, any diffe rence thal might result be!WCCn lhe lotal nominal

'Dlue of the bonds i5wcd to the Church and the value of the propcny actually

lransferred 10 the State acooTding as 10 whether this ]alter value CJ(ettd:s lhe formc:r

or vice\"crsa. shall be made good by the Gove~nt through the iswe ofbondsof

the same tcnor as IhO!iC mentioned in paragraplll of this article and maturing on

Ihe same dale as those bonds, toge ther with the interest due from the dale of the

com ing in lO force of the prncnl Agreemenl . or . respectively. sIlall be reimbursed

to the Government by lhe Mal tese Epi5ropal wnference together with the

inte reSIS received from the same dale .

Artkle 7

I, If in any futu re alienation of property transferred to it by virtue of the p!"C5Cnl

Agreemen l Ihe Governmenl shall realize a price exceeding by more than thirty per

ce nlum _ after laking int o account inflation calculated according to Ihe iOOe~

publi shed in te nn s of Ordinance XIXA. of 1959. as subsequently amelldcd - , the

amount paid 10 the Chu rch for the same property. Ihe Government shall issue to the

Foundulton for Church Schools bondsofl he same lenor as Ihose me ntioned in article 6,

of Ihe nomina l ,'alue eq ual to the difference be twee n such price and the: figure result ing

from the sum of the amount already paid 10 Ihe Chuch. increased \>y the rate of inflation

tha t might have interve ned. and of thirty pe r centum of the amount so calculated.

2, What i~ laid d<lwn in paT3grdph 1 of this article shall apply fo r a period of thirty

\'ea n, from the date of the cumin~ into force of lhe present Agreement .

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(a) The Government (Land Department) shalL. within tile Ihirtyfil'$l day of

3. March of each year, supply tile Maltese Episcopal Conference wilh Ihe lis\ of

transfer!;, made during Ihe preceding year to third pal1ics, of propeny acquired by

the Slate in virtue of the present Agreement.

(b) Within the thinicth day of June of each ynr. the G<!vemmcnt shall pay

10 the Foundation for Church Schools whatever amount shall be due \0 il. on

aooount of the tran$fers effected during the preceding year. in a.pplication o f ,,'hat is

laid down in pantgTIIph I o flhe prt'5enl ar1ide.

Article 8

The Government, notwithstanding any olher provision o{ law , is hereby returning

to Ihe Church the property previously expropriated from her of which i1 h3.§ no1 made

use and which i$ required for pastoral purposes. Such properly is listed in Annex 9.

I. 1be Stale transfers the dj~ dominium that il owns 10 5U(h ecclesiastical

enti ties as shal l have tne perpetual or temporary utik dominium of property utilized for

pastoral purposes. in such a way that the $aIDe entities acquire absolute owne!"Ship of

such property . Th is property is listed in Annex 10.

2. The a moon! due for the redemption and the relative acquisilion referred to in

lhe prea:ding paragraph is determined al the rale e5U1blished by law or. where the rate

is not spe(:ified by law, according 10 Ihe criteria o f valuation set OUI in Annex 7

mentioned in anicle S.

3. The redemption and the relative acquisi tion o f the propeny menlioned in

paragraph 1 o f the present article have the effect o f freeing thatlollffie property for the

future from every ob~gation and condition Of . in any case. from any restriction

.... hatsoever relating to their use and free disposability . deriving from any provision of

law o r contnICI entered inlo by an ecclaiaMieal e ntity of the one pan and Ihe

Gove rnmen! or another public e ntity o f the o ther pan.

AI"Ikk 10

t. The Government. notwithstanding any other provision of law regarding the

disposal of immovahle property by the Slate. transfers to the a..urch such immovables

o .... ned by it requcsted by her for pastoral purposes. and which are listed in Annex 11 .

2. The Government agrees to exchange Ihe immovables mentioned in the

prettedi ng paragraph for o thers belonging 10 eccLesiastical entities and which are of

equal value, as$hall be detennined by mutual agreelmnt.

A

\33

3. Should agreement not be reached about the e~dumge mentioned in the

preceding paragraph. the value of the immovables menlioned in paragraph I of IlIil

article sllall be detennincd according to tile m teria of valuation specified in Annex 7

mentioned in article S.

]. In Ihe drawing up of plans for an area designaled for residenlial housing , lhe

Government. after reaclling agreement wilh lbe dioooc$an Bishop ()(tnI:emed. shall

allocate an adequale and suitable area for lhe ChW"Ch's pastoral services (such iIll . for

e~ ampJe. a church . rectory. religious boU5C. buildings and open spaoe$ for religious.

c.alechetical, charitable , socio-cullural activities).

2. lbe acquistion in ownership by the Church of lhe area menlioned in lbe

preceding paragrapll shall be made and be financially regulated as follows :-

(a) if the area forms part of lhe property IransfeTTed 10 lhe SUI!!: by lhe

presenl Agreemenl, the Government. notwitlwanding anYOl.her provisK)n of law

regarding the disposal of immovable property by the Stale. shall lransfer illo lhe

Church for a oonsideratioo equal 10 thal w!lid! had been paid by the Governmenl

10 [he eu:lcsiastical entity lhat had possessed il.

(b) if the area farms pan oflhc Stale's property and had derived 10 il from

OIhcr sources. the Govenunem, notwith$tanding m y OIber pn.wis>on o f law

regarding the disposal of inunovablc property by the State, shall transfer illo lhe

C hurch al the price equal to that esUlblished by law as compensation for land

uproprlaled for public purposes.

(I:) if the area belongs 10 Ihird parties. the Goverruncn l shall expropriale il,

and shall d aim from the Church a oonsideratioo equal to Ihal wh ich it will pay 10

lhe owrn::r aca>rding 10 what the law delerrnme. for lhe acquwlion of propeny for

pub]", pu~.

ArticV 12

All transfers oon templated by the PfCSCnt Agreement shall be exempt from duty on

documents .

Artk:1e IJ

\ . Peniling cases ool"lCCming upropriations of ecclesiastical property made by the

Government in lenns of the Land Acquisition (Public Purposes) Ordinance or

olhem·ise. shall be resolved in a definitive manner by means of an arbitration award

given by a judge or a retired judge: appointed by oommon agreement between the

Govern ment and Ihe Maltese Episcopal Conference; he shaD proceed 10 detennine the

value of each properly on the ba~isof Maltese law. availing hUnsclfofthc sc~sofan

e~pert appointed by the ecclesiastical Authorities and of another appointed by Ihe

G overnment.

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2. (n the absence, in tenns of the pn.x:eding paragraph , of agreement aoout the

appointment of the arbitrator, or of appointment of an expen within two months

following a request submilled by the other party, the pending cases shall be decided in

accordance with the normal procedure established by law for expropriations, ~

provided tllal1he Commissioner of Land shall issue the notices to treat within twelve

months from the lXKlling into force of the present Agreement and, where necessary, file

the relative application before the Land Arbitration Board within three months from

Ihe service of the judicia/letter in reply by Ihe interested ecclesiastical entity.

3. TIle amount cstablishedacoording tothe procedure mentioned in paragraphs 1

and 2 otthe present anicle shall be paid by the Government within one year of the date

on which the case is dooded, lC>gelherwilh the interestsor damages established by law,

Cognizant of the fact that the provisions of the Devolution of Cenain Church

Property Act, 1983; of Legal Notice 36- Declaration of Certain Rights (B urthens for

M asses) O rder, 1983, also as subsoequently amended by Legal Notice 48 of 1983; of

Legal Notice 37 ~ Compulsory Registration (Ch urch Property) Onier, 1983, also as

subsequently amended by Legal Notice 47 of 1983; and of Legal Notice 38 of 1983, are

no longer in force, having been declared null by the First Hall of the Civil Court, the said

Act No. X of 1983 and Legal Notices36, 37, 38, 47 and 48 of 1983 are being repealed.

A~

Notwithstanding any o ther provision of law , as from the date of coming into force

of this Agreement. !be ownership, acquisition, pnssess;on, administration, alienation of

and succession to immovable property by ecclesiastical entities are regulated by the

ordinary laws of general applicability.

Article 16

1. A Joint Office is set up, by and at the expense of the Government, in premises

provided by the Government, which office has the functioo to: administer the propeny

transferred to the State by vinue of the present Agreement; do all that is necasary for

the registration mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of article 3, for the transfers and every

other legal requirement in terms of and for the purposes of the pre5ent Agreement;

make such co!"Tedionsoradditionsasmay be required in the IistsofAnnelles 1. 2. 3. 4. 5

and 6 mentioned in article I. Annex 8 in anicle 5. Annex 9 in article 8. Annex 10 in

article 9, and Annex 11 in article 10.

2. (a) The Joint Office shall also comprise employees of the Archbishop's

Curia, Malta , who shall continue to work unde r the conditions now obtainingat the

said Curia and shall be remunerated by it. 'The Government shall each momh

refund to the Archdiocese of Malta the cmt of such pe~nnel.

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(b) In tile I:3Se of propeny t1llnsfelTnl to tile State by the Diocc5c of Gom or

by a Religious insti tute, the Joint Olrlce may a\lai l il$t:1f of the asststana: of a

represenlati,'c of the Bishop's Curia, Gozo, or, n:spectively of tile Religiou5

Institute involved.

(cl An official appointed by agreement betwun the two Parties 511all be in

charge of the Joint Office.

3. The eo:lesiastical entities sllall place at the disposal of the Join t Office tile

documents relating to the property traMferrcd by them , for sucll timc as is necessary to

e ffect tile required procedures. These documents shall ~ubsequently be returned to the

same ecclesiastical entities.

Article [7

1. A Co ntrol Commillee is set up with the function of promot ing and monitori ng

the correc\ and timc[y application o( the provisions of the present Agreement with

particular reference to what is laid down in article 7 and tOlhe work assigned to the Joint

Office mentioned in article 16.

2. The Control Committce sllall be composed of two members nominated by the

Holy See and two member.; nominated by the Governrnent of Malla; it shall meet at

least e\lery IWO mon lhs; it shall be chai red . alternately, by I represent alive o[the Holy

See and by a repre5enlativc of tile Government of Malta , who sllall chair the first

meeting.

Artkle 18

J. TIle pre5Cnt Agreeme nt sh.aJ[ come into fon:e when the Part ies exchange an

ofrlcial communication that the fun implementation of all illl provisioM thT()!,lgh the

approprialc legal instrumenl5 acx:ording to their ~i\IC legal systems has take n

pl ace.

The exchange of such communication sh,alltake place within one hundred twen ty

days of the signing of the present Agreement.

2. If full implementation of the prese nt Agreement and exchange of official

communication do I10t take place within the period mentioned in tile preceding

paragraph, th is same Agreement shalll10t ha\le any effect and the Parties shall 001 be

bound by it.

Art icle 19

I.

[f in (ulure there shall arise difficulties of interpretation or of application of the

proY~ions of the present Agreement. the Holy Sec alld the Re public of Malta shall

en trust the ~arch for an amicable ..,Iution to a 10int Commission lhal shall be

composed of Ihe Apostolic Nuncio to Malta and of the President of the Malte5e

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Episcopal Confere rw::e or of their delegate$ for the Holy Sce and of the Minister of

Foreign Affain and of the Minister respooyble for Education or of IlIei. de1cgalu for

the Republic of Malta .

2. In ~ of defauh of performance of what is \:omcmpla led in liwl preceding

paragraph. or in the a~na: of an amicable solution of diffICUlties of intCrpI"C'talion or

or application of the proYironsof the ~nl Agre<'mcnt in the mannc:rOC)memplated

in the preo:ding paragraph. or in (3l;C of default of pcrlonnana: of the obligations

undenaken by vinue otlhc present Agreement , saving alwa)'S lhc righuof the Parties at

internat ional Jaw. an ecclesiastical cmit)' or the Go.'cnunent wllich consider themselves

as being due any obligation whatsoever deriving from this same Agreemen t. sllall ha~e

the right to take the appropriate legal measures against the pany nol fulfilling ils

obligations before the Courts having jurisdiction ar>d competence. sa ving the rightS of

the holdcl1iof the bonds mentioned in anide 6.

Done at Vallct ta. Malta. on the 28th day of No~embe r. 1991 . in t .... ooriginals in the

Italian and English languages. both texts being equall y authentic.

PIER LUIGI CELATA

EDWA RD FENECH A DAM I

For the Holy Sce

For the Republic of Malta

A

La SANTA SEOE e la REPUBBLlCA 01 MALTA .

tenendo oonto. da pane della Santa Sede. dei principi affermati dal Concilio

Ecumenioo Vaticano 11 e sandti dal Codicc di Diril10 Canonioo circa l'u$O dei ben;

temporali degli en ti eoclesiastici; dellt panioolari circosumze che caral1erizzano le

sce lle pastorali della ChieSJI in Malta; deUe nccessita derivan ti daU'impegno di

evangelizzazione e di carit~. anche in riferimento ai mteri approvati nel 1913 per la

riforma amministrativa nella Prov;nda Ecclesi astica di Malta; delle csigenze del bene

oomu ne della r.ocietb mallest , sopralutto a riguardo delle maggiori allele sociali;

e lenendo allre$l oonlO. da p~ne delta Repubblica di Malta, delt' utilita di favorire

una de5tinazione sociale dei ben; posscduli dagli enl; ecclesiaslici;

hanno deliberalO di stipulare il prescme Accordo ~ul Irasferimenlo alia SlatO dei

be n; immobili ecclesiaslici non utili per scopi paslorali e sulla definizione di aleune

queslioni allinenli; rapponi palrimoniali trala Chie~ e 10 Slalo.

A lale fine . la Sanla Sedc. rapprescntala da Msgr. Pie r Luigi Celala, Arcivesoovo

lilolare di Dodea e Nunzio Apostolioo I Malla, e la Rcpubblica di Malla. rapprescntala

dal 0011. Edward FenC('h Adami, Prima Minislro. hanno 51abilito d; comunc intesa

quanlo segue

Artlcolo I

I. Sono Irasferit; allo Slalo IUlli i beni ;mmobili appanenenli .iI; enti

ecclcsiastici a Malta e a GolO ad eccez;one di quelli qui di seguilo descrill;

(a) benl che. faccndo felic una dichiarazione 0 a giudizio dell'Aulo rill

ecclcsiastica

(i) sorio ulilizz.ali al preseme (Annesso N. I) 0 sono prcvisli utili in

futuro (Annes.so N. 2) per i fini istituz;onali degl; SleSS! cn ti ecclesiastici

possc:s5Qri 0 di altri cmi ecclesiastici;

(ii ) $000 alligui. 0 prospicienti. 0 comunque oollegali con i beni di cui

agli Annasi NN . 1 e 2. 0 subiscono 0 godono di Krvilil su di cssi

(Annc&SO N. 3);

(iii) sono oggello di una promessa di oompro-vendila. di ronccssione in

cnfileusi 0 di alie nazione a qualsiasi ahro li lolo. ~tipulata in data anteriore a

'1uclla del presenle Accordoe aooora vinoolante. e prescnlala alla Sanla Scdc

per la debila approvazione (Anne&SO N. 4);

(b)

I'ul ile domi nio tempom.neo e I'u.ufrulto dei beni di propriell di lem;

(t) beni che risult ano nccessari per le pennulc ai sensi dell'articolo 10

(Anne&SO N. 5);

(d) beni ronTlessi (:On p3rticolari cirooslanze (Anncsso N. 6).

2. I beni ecclesiaslici , cia tT3sferirsi allo 51al0 ai termini del numero I del present"

anioolo. che !iODO oggello di una caus.legale in roi t parte un enle ecdcsiaslioo, non

saranno trasferili allo Slalo prima dell. ooocluOOne delta stessa causa medianle

scnlenza delinitiva 0 compromesso In le parti.

Al1ko1o 1

I . 11 Governo utilix>:er~ i beni ad euo lrasferit; in virtu del present" Accordo per

favonr" la sa]vaguardia dell'ambientc e]o sviluppo deU'agricoltura, e per soddidare i

bisogni JOciali piu avvertiti ncl POe!;e , qua l; l'edilizia popolare e i servizi di pubblica

utili " , come pure per scopi uman;!ari. educat ivi, culturali. Fr. taU scapi (unavia,

nell'inlerprelazione di queslo anirolo, non sono cia consideraTe i lini e le allivill dci

pa rt il; poiilici 0 degli enti roUegati a quest; ultimi direttamente 11 indirellamente.

2. Oli stessi belli non p<manno "Mere ceduli. direllamcnle 0 indirenamenle, a

person" 11 en l; che lIanno nalun, fini 0 all;vill non conform; con I';nsegnamenlo morale

della Chicsa.

3. 11 ITufcrimcnlO degli stessi beni da pane dclJo 5UIIO, per i fin; indicati al

numcro 1 del p~nte articolo , avverrll mediante offene dopa un avviso pubblicato 5U

~ Mal ta Government Gazelle~ o . nei cui previsli daUa Ic~. iICCOndo graduatorie

baslte $U punteggi 0 mediante SOMeggio e. $IIlvo qUlnto slabi lilO nel presente artioolo.

dom essere l itres! effelluato 1iCOO000 le prtSCtirioni del ~Di$posal of Governmenl

Land Ace , 1976 M 0, in caso di abrogazione totale 0 parziale d; quesl3 legge. in

con fonn ill con i priocipi cbe Ranno /Ilia base di essa.

Anlcolo 1

Tutli i beni altualmcntc pos~dut; da enti ccelcsi/lSlici, sia da questi ritenuli sia

trasrerit; allo StalO in virtu del presente Accordo , a rar lemjXI dal l'enlrala in vigore

dello ' leSSO A.xordo

(a) sono considerati a tutli g1i effelli , salvo evenl u/lli dirilli di tcro , come

previamente registrali ~w;th absolute titk M ai sensi del ~ Land Re&iSlration Act,

1981 ~. Per ~tero M si inlendono persoIK: che non sono ut il goverDO 0 qualsiasi allro

enle pubblico ut la Chicsa 0 qualsiasi ente ecdc5iaslico. Ogni pane riconosce, a

lUll; i fini, il litolo dell'ahra pute alia proprietl che essa rilicne 0 acquista al

lermi ni del prese nte Aooordoe , conciO, ogni pane rinuncia aogni dirilloo wone

contm raltra pane in meri ta al titoJod; della proprietl incl uso, senu. pregi udiuo

per il carlllere generale della rinu ncia sopra affermata, ogoi dirillo cl; wone in

ba5e al " Land Re&istration Act , 198tM;

(b) nei confront i del Governo 0 di altri enli pubblici sono sanali q uanto al

titola della Iora proprict~ e possesso, OVC ne sia il casu. da ogni carenlJl 0 difcllO, in

modo chc siano eonsiderali come spellanli agii stC$Si enti ecclesiaSlici. nonoslanle

agoi allTa disposiziane cli legge;

A

(e) $0lIO liberali , oonostante ogni allradisposizione di 1cUe, daogni vincolo

e condioonc, /) C(lnHlnque da qUllsiasi reslriZlQne relativa al lom uso e libera

disponibilitl. denyanl; cia ogni allra dilpOSi.zionc d. kgge oda qual siasi contralto

:Ira un eDle eocIesiastiro. da \lna parte, e il Governo 0 a1lro cnle pubbliro.

daIra/lra.

1. I credi t; IIrrelrati a faVOTe d; cnti eoclesiastici e re]alivi a ben; da qucst; trasferi ti

allo Stato in vim) del presc nl e Aeoordo, dovranoo essc rc oorrlspotili agli stc:ssi e nli

ecclesiastic creditori.

2. Nooostantc l'avvcnu to trasfcrimcnw dei ben; di cui al numero precedenlc, gli

cnti ecdcsiastici creditori manlcrranoo ;ntegri nei confronti dei debitori, ton priorilil su

even mal; diri t!; dello Stato. lutt; i dirit!; di -none, di esecurione e d; rivals.a derivanti

clal maneato pagamcntc.

I ben; ea:lesiaslici tTasferi l; .Uo SlalO in virtu del prcsente Aocordo sono classificali

e valulali sulla base delle ca tegoric. dei prczzi e degli indid di capilal izzazKme

specilicali neWAnnesso N. 7. Gli slessi beni sono elencll li. secondo lal i m ten,

neU'Ann~ N. 8.

Ar1ko!o 6

I. (a> A lilolo di rompenso per i be ni ad esso trasferili, il Govemo emelle un

KLocaI Registe red SI<)Ck ~ e trasferisce alia Chiesa obbligazioni del valore

nominale di lire maltesi ce nlo e mullipli di cento, esenti da tassa di boIlo. della

durata di dieci anni . aI lasso annuo di in tere$$C del sctte per cento pagabile og.ni sei

mesi. nel~abili . inte5tate . scrondo le norm<: canonic..., vigenli, agli enti

ecclesiastici cedenti i beni e . nella misura delerminala dall'AuloriLli ecclesiastica.

alia Fondazione per le Sroole della Chiesa.

(b) 11 lasso ann oo di inle resse di lali obbligazioni ~ ri vi$to alla scadenl:ll di

ogni biennio. a panirc dallB dala di em issione delle Slesse obbligazioni, in modo

tale da mantenerlo di un punto pcrccnluale piu basso del tasso nonnate di interesse

massimo sui preslili (Knormal maximum lending rate of inleresl~) roru;.entitodalla

legge. fermo rcsta ndo che non polm diminuirc al di sotlO del sen e percento.

(c) All a scade nza. le stesse obbliganoni S11l"i1nno rimbo~te da! Govemo

oon un premio del dieci perccnto rispetto al lom valore nominale.

,.,

(d) Le ile5SC obbligazioni potnnno CSKIl: liberamcnle vcndutc 81 pu bblico.

previa aUlorizuzione della Confcrenu Episcopale Maltese, pe r un ammonIaTe

complcssivo nomiDale 001'1 CCI.':Iecienle cinque milion; d; lire mallesi all 'anno. Al d;

sopr. d; questa <:ifm, eue potranno~re negoziale solo con I'autorizzuione del

Minislcro dell e Finanze. 11 lrasferimenlo d; obbliguioni Ira cnl; ecclcsiaslici.

!uUlvia, non richiede tale aUlorizzazione. non rienln nel computo

ddl'ammontarc comple";vo Irasferibile annualmenle cd ~ esente da lassa d; bollo.

2. <a) Alia dala delrcnlrala in vigore: del presente Acrordo. il Governo

oonscgnen all. Confcrenza Epi$COpale Maltese, che a sua volta le Irasmetteri agli

avtnt; diriltn, obbligazioni per un valore nominale complessivo pari al

novaJlLlcinque per cenlo del valore tolale dei beni traden t; allo StalO, delerminalO

secondo gIi Annessi NN . 7 e 8 d; cui all'articoln 5.

(b) A1lennine dedi adempi mcnli previsti per illrasfuimenlo di IIl11i i beni

ano Slalo, I'evenluale differenu risutlanle Ira il valore nominale CX)mplessivo delle

obbligazioni cedule alia Chiesa e il v.lore della propOelJi effeuivamenle lrasferila

allo Slalo, a secx)lIda che queSlo valore ecceda il primo 0 vioc:versa, sari regolala

dal Governo medianle la cenionc di obbligarioni aventi cara n ensliehe uguali a

quelle di cui al numero I del presenle articoloCX)n scadenza alia Slessa data di esse

ed il pagamen to degli intere"; marurali daUa data deU'enlrata in vigore del

presenle Accordo, 0, rispellivamenle, san\ restiluila al Govcmo dalla Conferenza

EpiKOplle Maltese: illSieme oon gli inleressi ricevuti dalla stessa data .

1. Se daU. eventuale aticnazione di beni ad e5050 tnosferiti in vi rtu del presenle

Acoordo 11 Govemo avri un mvato superiore di oltre illrenta per ccnlO - t.,nulO

oonto dell'inflaziQne ealCX)lata se<:Ondo l'i ntlice pubblicato ai termi ni dell 'Ordinanza

XlXA, 1959 e dei sUcce$5ivi emendamcnti -a quanto venalo alla OIie5a per,li ste5$i

beni, il Govemo cederA alia Fondazione per le Seuole dell. Chiesa obbligazioni di

caratteristiche uguali a quelle di cui all'artioolo 6 per un importQ nominale pari alia

diffe renza fra lale ricavalQ e la afra risultame dalla $()mma del vslore gi~ versato alia

Ch iesa, aumenl;ltQ dell'importQ dell'inflazione evemualmen le intervenuta , e dellrenta

percenlodel valore 00$1 calcolalo.

2. n disp05lo del numero I del presente artirolo ura applicato pe r la durala di

trenta anni I far tempo clan'enlrala in vigore del presente Accordo.

3. (a) 11 Oovemo (Land Departmenl), elllrO illrenlUIlO mano di ogni anno,

fomiri alia Conferenza EpiKopale Mal tese, I'eleneo delle alienazioni , effettuate

neU'anno precedente I favore di tem, dei beni acquisili clallo Slalo in virtu del

presenl., Accordo,

(b) Enl,Q il trenta giugno di ogni anno il GQvemo vel"Sl:ra ana Fondazione

pe r le Scuole della Chiesa quanlo ad essa dovuto, per le aJienazioni effelluate

neU'anno preceden t .. , in applicazione del disposlo del numero I del presente

articulo.

A

Articok> 8

IJ Govcmo, nonoslanlC ogoi allra disposizionc di kggc:, reslilUiscc alia Chksa i

beni ad CSSII ~ropnati e non utilizzali cM sono [II'O"'S<ari per tini pulorali. Tali beni

sono eJenCltli neWAnncsso N. 9.

I. Lo 51110 tnsferisce agli enli ecclcsiaslici il dirello dominio che possiede dei

beni dei qUlli cui hanno 1"utile dominio perpctooo Icmporaneo c chc SOIlO utiliuati per

fini pastorali , in modo the i mcdesimi cnti acquisisoono I'as.soluta proprielA d; tal ; beni.

Que$li Sleu; ben; sonoelencali nell'Annesso N. 10.

2. L'impono dovuto per il riKlno cd il rclalivo acquislo di cui aJ numcro

prccedeole ~ OelermioalO secondo illasso Slabili to dalla legge oppure, ove e5SO lIOn sia

legalmenle Oelerm;nalo. serondo; mIen di valutazione specificati ncll'AnnelOSO N. 7,

di cui all'anicolo S.

3. 11 riscallO e il rclalivoacquisto dei be ni di cui al numcro 1 del presenleanicolo

hanno I'cffetto di liberare Si; "essi beni. per il futuro, da <;>gn; vincolo c condizione , 0

comunque da qualsiasi reslriJ:ione relaliva aJ Ioro uso e libera disponibilitil derivDOli do

quall;iasi disposi1.ione di legge 0 conlraltO fra un enle ecclesiastico, da una pane. cd iJ

Governo 0 alt ro enle pubbJico, daU'altr • .

ArtkoIo 10

IJ Govcmo, nonostantc <>&ni a1lra dispositione d; legge n:laliva alia coIKCIISionc

dell a propriet~ immobilian: da pane dcllo Slalo. Irasrerisc:e alia cruesa g1; ;mmobili di

sua propriet.l da css.a richiesli per fin; pastorali e t he sono elenc:ati neU' AnnelOSO N . 11.

2. 11 Govemoaccelt.a di permulare g1i immobiti di cui al oumero precedente coo

altri immobili appanenenti ad en li ccclcsiutici e di pari vatore. da delenninare di

comune inlesa.

3. Qualora non si raggiunga un'inteloll per la pe rmula d; cui al nurnero

pre<.:cdcntc. il valore degli imrnobili da cui al nurrn:ro 1 di questo anicolo sarA

determinato seoondo i mleri di valuta1.ione specificati nell'A nnesso N. 7 di cui

all'a nicolo S.

Articolo 11

I. Ne! predisporrc il piano di una zonadcstinata all'edilitia abi tativa. il Govcmo,

previa intcsa oon il Vesoovo diocesano interessalO . determineri un 'an:a adegulta e

idonea al servizio pastorale ddla Chiesa (come, ad C$Cmpin, ehicsa, casa canooica 0

religiosa, locali e spazi per attiv;I.l religiosa . catcci"letica. cari ta(iva. soci!H:ulluraJe).

A

2. L'acquisizione in proprietA aUa Chicsa del1'area di cu i al numuo prccedcmc

sarl cffcttuata c finanziariamente regolata come segue

<a) Se I'area ~Iit oomprcsa tra i beni trasfcri ti aUo Stato col prcse ntc

Accordo, il Governo. nonostante ogni allra disposirione di legge relativa alia

ClOI"IceUione della propriclA immobiliare da pane dcllo SlalO, la Irasferir~ alia

Chiesa dielro un compenso uguaJe a quello da e$SO dato a suo tempo all 'ente

eo:Icsiastico chc la posscdeva.

(b) Se I"area fart parte delle propriell dello StaID e salit di diversa

provenicllUl, il Govemo, notIOtitante ogni altra disposizione di leggc relativa alia

concessione della proprictA immobiliare da parte dello Stalo, la trasfcrilit alia

Otiesa ad un pren.o pari. quc:llo rubilllo dllla lege per il compemo dei teITeni

cspropriati a ICOpo di pubblica utililli.

(t) Se I'area appartcni a tem. il Govemo la espropriclit,esigendo poi daUa

Chiesa un oompenso pari a quello che e$SO dorn versare aJ proprietario secondo la

misura fissata dalla legge per I"acquisto di proprietA a $COpO di pubbtic:a utililli.

Artlcolo 12

Tu!!i i trasferimcnti contemplat; dal prcsente Acrordo sono csenn da tassa di

bollo.

Artlcolo 1J

I. I casi pendenli relativi alia espmpriazione di beni ea:lcsiastici e[fetlulti dal

Govemo nei 0 al di fuori dei lermini del ~ Land Acquisition (Public Purposes)

Ordinance saranno risolti in modo definitivo attraverso la decis;onc arbitrale di un

M

,

giudicc 0 di un u ·gi udice designalodi comune intesa dal Governo e dalla Conferenu

Episcopale Mal lcsc. iI quale prooc:deri IIlla dcterminwone del valore dei beni in bMc

al diritto mallC$C, valendosi della assislenza di un esperto designato daU'Autoritll

eo:Iesiastica e di uno designata da! Govemo.

2. In easo di manClIJUa, ai se nsi del nu~m precedente, di intesa suLla

designwone delrarbitmodi de$ignazione di un espertoentm due mesi dalla ridtieua

falla dall'altr1l PIrte. i casi pendenti saranno risolti seeondo la IIOrmale prooedura

prevista daUa leggc pe r le espropriazioni, TC5lando inlC50 dte il -commissioner of

M

H

Land dorn sped ire le KnOlices 10 treat tntm dodici mesi dall 'entrata in vigore del

presenle Acrordo e. ove necessaria. dovlit presenlare il ricorso relalivo presso il KLand

K

Arbitration Boa rd entm tre mesi dalla data della OOIitica della lettera ufllciale di

risposta da parte dcll'entc ecclesiastioo interessato.

3. 11 valore stabi lilO secondo le procedure di cui ai numeri I e 2 del p.csente

artioolo sarl oorrisposlO dal Govcmo entm IIn anno dalla data della definizione del

caso. SIIlvi gli inlercssi 0 danni dovuti pe r leggc.

A

Artloolo 14

Preso atto che le disposizioni del ~Devolution of Certain Church Property Act,

J 983"; d~lla "Legal Notice~ 36- "Dedaration of Certain Rights (Bun hens for M3S$eS)

Order, 1983 ~, anchecomesuccessivamenteemendata dalla "Legal Notice" 48dell983;

della MLegal Notice~ 37- "Compulsory Registration (Church Propeny) Order, 1983",

anchecome suocessivamente emendatadalla MLegal Notice~ 47 del 1983; e del1a "Legal

Notice~ 38 del 1983, non sono piu in vigote essendo state diehiarate nulle dalla "First

Hall of the Civil Coun ~, vengono abrogati 10 stesso Atto N. X del 1983 e le s!=

MLegal Notices" 36, 37,38,47 e 48 del 1983.

Anlrolo 15

NorlOstante ogoi alt", dispo:sizione di leggc, dalla dala dell'e ntrata in vigore del

presentc Accordo la propriet"', l'acquisizione , il JXlS'iCSSO, I'amministr.u:ione ,

I'alienazione dei beni immobili da parte di enli ecclesiastici , come pu re la successione

ad essi a favore degli stessi en!i, sono regolati dal1e leggi ordinarie di applicazione

generale.

Anicolo 16

I. A cura ed a carico del Govemo t costitui!o, in una sede messa a disposizion e

dallo stesso Govemo, un "Joint Office" che ha iI compilO di: amministran: la proprieta

trasferita a110 Stato ill virtu del presente Accordo; svolgere quanto necessario per la

registrazione di cui aU'artioolo 31cllera (a) dcll'articolo 3, per i trasferimenti ed ogni

ahm adempimento ai sensi cd agii ereclli de l prese nlc Accordo; apportare, se

necessario, correzioni oaggiunle agiielenchi degli Annessi NN . 1,2, 3,4, 5e6dei quali

all'articolo I, N. 8 di cui atl'articolo 5, N. 9 di cui all'articolo 8. N. 10 di cui aU'artioolo

9 e N. 11 di cui alrarticolo 10.

2. (a) 11 "Joint Office" sar'" composta anche da impiega ti della Curia

Arcivescovile di Mal!a, i quali continueranno a lavorare alle oondizioni vigenli

nella slessa Curia e saranno da questa retribuiti. 11 Govemo rifonderil mensilmente

a11'Arcidioccsi di Malta il eosto di lale personale.

(b) Q uando si trall i di beni trasfe riti allo Stato dalla Diocesi di Gow 0 da un

lstitulo Religioso. il "Joint Office~ potrll val ersi della collaborazione di un

rappresenlanle della Curia Vescovile di Cozo 0 , rispettivam ente , dell'Jstitulo

Religioso inleressa to.

(c) 11 "' Joint Office~ sarll dirello da un responsabi le nominato d'intesa fra le

due Parti.

3. Gli enli ecclesiastici mel1eranno a disposizione del "Joint Office~ i documenti

relalivi ai belli da essi trasferiti, per tul10 il tempo necessario ai previsti adempimenti.

Tali documellli saranno po; restituiti agl i stessi enli ecclesiastici.

A

Artiwlo 17

I . (;. costituito un Comitatodi Controlla con 11 oompilo di promuovere e vigilare

sulla corretta e tempest;va applicazione delle disposizion; del presente Accoroo con

panirolare rigua rdo a quanto stabilito all'artioolo 7 ed ill avoro assegnato aJ ~Joi nl

H

Oftice di cui all'articolo 16.

2. 11 Camilalo di Controllo san'l compostO da due membri design .. ti dalla San ta

Sc:dc e da d\le membri designaLi dal Go~emo di Mal"; d(lm radunacsi almeno ago;

due !Ile$i; sari presiedu(o. aJlemalivamc:nle , da un rapprescnlanle della Santa Sede e

da un rappresentan le del Govemo di Malla, il quale presieder! la prima sedula.

I. 11 presente Accordo entrer' in vigore aJ momenlO in cui le Parti si

liCambieranno ufflciale comunicazione dcll'avvenuta piena applicazione di tUlle le

disposizioni di elSO mediallle gl; strument; gjuridici pro pri dei rispelt;v; ordinamenti.

1..0 5(:ambio di tale comunicazione doYrA aweD;re enl ro cenIOven!; giomi

dalla firma del presente Accordo.

2. T,aseol"S(! inUlilmenle illcrmine di I~mpo di eu; 1.1 numero pre<.:cdenle senu

che sia stall. dala piena applicazione aJ prescnle Accordo, qUC$to stC$$O Accordo non

avrl aleun cUeuo e le Pani non saranno obbligalc da csso.

Articolo 1'.1

I. Se in avvcnire sorgessero difficolL1o di interpreluione 0 di applicnione delle

dispo:sirioni del presente ACCOJdo , la Santa Sede e la Repubblic:a di Malta affide'anno

la ricc,ca di un 'amichuole soluzione ad una Commissionc paritelica. che sad

composta, pe r pane della Santa Sedc, dal Nunzio Aposloliro a Maha c dal Presidenle

della ConferelWl Episropale Malteseo da lo,odelegati e, per pane della Repubblica di

Malta, !lal MiniSl ro degl; Affari Esteri e dal Minist,o responsabile per I" Educazione 0

!la 10' 0 delegati.

2. In caso di mancato adempimento di quanto p,evisto 1.1 numero prc«dc:nle, 0

di mantllta solurlone amichevole di eventual; difficoltl di intcrprelazione 0 di

applicazione delle disposizioni del presenle Accordo mediantc quanto previsto al

numero precedente, 0 di mantlllO adempimcoto degli obblighi assunti in vinil de l

prescnle Accordo, $lilY; sc mpre i diritti spettanti alle Pam scrondo il dirino

intemuiooale, un ente ea:1C$iastiro 0 il Governo che si ritcngono creditori di

qualsivoglia obbliguione derivanle da q~o stesso Accordo, avranno iI dirillo di

adire, rontro la poIne inadempienle. gli organi gi udiziari che abbiaoo giurisdizionc e

<.:Ompelenza, salYi i dirill; dei titolari delle MobbJigazioniM di rui all'anirolo 6.

A

Fauo aUa VaHcua, Malta il 28 di nov~ mbre , 1991, ill doppio origi llale, ill lingua

italiana e ingJese, ambedue i test; facenoo ugualmelltc fcde .

PIERLUIGICELATA

EOWARO FENECH AOAMI

Per la Sanla Scde

Per la Repubblica di Malla

PllMCd by the House of Representatives at Sitting No , 23 of the 8th June , ]992.

LAWRENCE GONZt

SpelJlc.u

RIC IlARO J . C A UCIl I

Cleric. 10 Ihe HoUS#' of Rep,uetutJlivQ..

In tlr; .... obd · o;~ .. tH~ _ Ka.l1jo _ _ _ b1""D<""".' .. ' .. of~~

i . - c.dIIt

Mid>oot:fI ~huoMp<fijo ....0..", _

.. "" ............... ~ ,.....

1"" _ Prict '''''

1'1'< ..

In this Act unless Ihe context otherwise requires

"Agreemen!~ means the Agreemell1 entered into between the

Holy See and Malta. signed on the 28th day of November 1991. relative

to the transfer to the State of such immovable property in Malta as is not

required by the Catholic Church for pastoral purpo:ses and on the

dctcrmination of reMain issues peMaining to the relations between the

Church and the State as regards maners of patrimony; which

Agreement was done in two originals in t~e English and Italian

langu age. The lext of the said Agreement (without the annexeS thereto)

is reproduced in the Schedule to this Act. A wpy of the Agreement. was

laid on the Table of the House of Representatives on 29th November.

1991 and 25th May. 1992 (as to the anne les).

"appointed day" means the day on whiCh the Government of Malta

and the Hol y See exchange an official communication that the fun

implementation of allthe provisions of th e Agreement through the

approprial~ I~gal irulrum~ntS aocording to their respectiv~ legal systems

has taken place. The Prime Ministershall, by notice in tile Gazelle, give

notification of ~ucll appoint ed day;

"Control Commjtte~" meaJl$ tile Commillee se t up in te rms of

ankle 17 of the Agreement;

"ecclesiastical entity" m~ans any ent ity of the Roman Catllolie

Apostolie Church in Malta, in tenru of the Code of Canon Law;

"Joint Office" means the office set up in vinue of section 4 of this

Act .

The Government of Malt a is for th~ purposes o f Ihe

Ratification of Treat ies Act and of any other law, autllorised to ratify

the Agreement.

(I) There is Ilereby establislled an office to be krlOWn as the

Joint Office wllich shall have Ille functions referred to in the Agre~ment

and any otller function which tile Panies to tile Agreement may, fmm

time to time. by common consent. delennine.

(2) Corrections and additions 10 the lists of property referred

to in articles I. 5. 8. 9 and 10 of the Agreement shall. where ne.:essary .

by made by Ihe Joint Office ..... ith the approval of tile Control

Commil1ee. and a copy of such corrections and additions shall be laid on

tile Table of the House every thr« months.

(3) Appointments to the Joint orrICe shall be made by the

Government following agreement with the Holy See. Secondments of

employees from the ArchbisOOp's Curia shall be regulated by tile

Agreemen t.

(I) Without prejudice to any right belonging to any third

party. lhe litle to imlllOVable property 10 which thisseclion applies shall

be registerable and be registered in the Land Regislry by tile Joint

Of rice in the name or lhe GOVC'rnmenl ofMallll where such immovable

property is transferred in virtue of this Act to the Government of Malta

on the appointed day or in Ille name of the ea:lesiastical entilY by which

the immovable property is retained and confirmed on the appointed day

in vinue of this Act . a'S if the land to which such title refers were situate

within a Registration area so declared in virtue of section 10 of the Land

Registration Ao;I . and thereupon, subject to the provil\ions of the

following subsections of Ihis SoeCIion the Land Registration Act shall

apply thereto a5 if that land "" ere so l\i tuate.

(2) Where title to land Ilas been registered in accordance

with this section. then . without prejudice to any rights belonging 10 t hird

panics and in particular without prejudice to any registration made in

the Public Registry, Vallella. or Gozo . sueh tille shall be deemed to

have been registered on lhe appointed day.

(3) Without prejudice 10 any rights belongiong 10 third

parties, the Land Registrar $hall register the immovable property with

absotut~ title wilhout the need of the production of any proof of title

olhe r liuln a ceniflCllle iiiSued by th e Joint Office stating that the

propen y is onc to which the Agreement refers , and WIIS on the

appointed day in the posseiiSion of the ecclesiastical entity in whose

name it is being registered or by whom it is transferred to the

Government of Malta in accordance witb this A ct. Such certificate shall

Slale any qualifications or limitations to the title of which the Joint

Office may be aware , and the Joint Office sh all. where these are

available to it, produce any furthe r documentation relative to the ti tle to

the propeny be iog registered .

(4) With respect to third pa nics the registration shall have

effect liS if the ti tLe we re registered on ly as one of a possessory nature but

wi lh respect to the Government and to ecclesiastical e ntities the title

shall be deemed to be an a~lute title (other than any qualification that

may arise from the certificate iiiSued by the Joint Office) and shall be

indefeasible

Provided that where the Land Registrar is in accordance with

$.Cction 49 of the Land Registrllion Act , ~tisfied either from the

documents produced with the application for registration or othe rwise

thal he may issue a title which is abwlu te also in regard to third parties,

the said Registrar moy iiiSue such a tille.

(5) This section applies to such im movable property which.

asce ni fied by the Joint Office, is subject tothe Agn.ement and is on thf

appointed day in the JlOSSCiiSion of the n:lative ec:clesiastical entilY.

(6) For the purpose of this s«:tion. Third Party means any

ph)'$ical or juridical person other than the Government of Malta. a body

corporate established by law. an eoclesiastica.l entity or any person

acquiring title to the land in question from the Goyernmen t of Malta.

from a body corporate cstablished by law or from an ec:clesiaslkal entity

.-. -

after the appointed da y.

(I) The Government of Malta in virtue of this Act. is hereby

acquiring with effect from the appoi nted day and under the tCmlS and

conditions and for the price indicated in the Agreemen l , lhe immovable

property which in accordance with the same Agn.ement is to be

tn nsfemd by the rdative ecdesiastical en tities to whom the

Agreement refers, and for th is purpose the Minsler responsible for

Finance shall issue stock under the provisions of the J..oQl Loans

( Registered Stock and Securities) Ordinancz in payment by the

Govemme nl tolhe Ecclesiastical enti tiesofthepriee due 10 lbem,orlo

the Foundation for Church Schools, &$ provided for in the Agreement.

(2) The Stock issued in accordance with IIIbsection (\) of this

section shall be regula ted by the terms of the Agreement and in so far as

they are not inconsistent with the said Agreement, by and under thf

proYisioO! of the J..oQI Loans (Registered Stock and Securi ties)

Ordinance .

(3)

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Mal la Stock

E.xchan~ Act. 1990 and for the purpose of , ubscclion (3) of section 3

thereof, the stocks iS$ued in acrordan<:e with subsection ( 1) of this

tection may , Albject 10 the provisions of the AgTe('ment , be traded

bel_en eo:lesiaslicaJ entities outside tile Malla Stock Exchange.

The ITansfer of the immovable property to whidl5OCtion 6

applies shall be followed by tM: registration of tile transfer of the title 10

the land in the Land Registry where the title 10 the land hall lJread)' been

registered. or by the registration of the land in the name of the

Government of Malla where the litle 10 the land had 001 previously

been registered . Such registration of title or transfer shall be cffe<:led

upon the i$Sue of I certificate by tile Joint Office 10 the Land Registrar

to the cffo:ellhal the land h~ been tr1lnsfelTed from tbe eoclesiaslicaJ

enrily 10 the Governmenl nf Malll . and no further formality shin be

required In effect the transf~rother than this Act.

Saving as provided by BRide 4 of Ihe Agreement . or where any

olher provision of the Agreement provides otherwise. the Government

sha ll suoceed the ecclesiastical enlilies in all real rights. interests.

obligations. bu rdens. (with the uclusion of pious burde ns). and actions

~naining to the properties transferred to it by virtue of tile Agreement.

,. (I) Notwithstanding any provision of any other lawln award

tive n in an arbilration as iI provided for in paragrnph I of article IJ of

the Agreemenl shall be valid Ind beenforceableon Ihe Government or

ecclesiaslical enlilies as the case may be .

(2) The provisions of the Code of Organi.!.alion and Civil

Procedure relating 10 Arbitration shall in 10 far as they are nnl

inconsistent with the provisions of subsection ( I) of this section Or of

plragJ1lph I of anick IJ of the Agrt:ement or unleH otllerwise agreed

between the Government of Malta and the Maltese Episoop,al

Con ference, shall apply 10 In Irbilration as is referred to in subsectiQn

( I ) of Ihis section.

( I) Minkejja kull disp:!iW:joni la' kull lip 0/'1", detitjooli I;

tillghata rarbitraU kif hemm provdul llI·paragrafu Ila ' I·aniklu I) lal-

Flehim ghandha tkun valida u d:egwibbli ghar-rigward tal·GvCI1I;ew

cntijiet dklcsjastiti skood il-kai:.

(2 ) Id-di$p)tizzjonijiel tal- Kodiei la' Organi~joni u

Proeedura Civili dwar I-A rbit",U ghandhom. sakcmm ma jkunux

inkoosUlenli mad.dispotizzjonijiellaHubanikolu (I) t8' dan I·artikolu

;ew tal ' paragrafu (I) \I' I-artiklu !3 tal ·Ftehim jcw sakemm ma

jinftchirnx mod iehw bejn il-Gvcm ta' Malta u I- Konfe renza Episkopali

MaLtija.japplikaw ghal arbilragg kifhem m imsemm; fis·subartikol u (I)

la' dan J·artikolu .

( I ) The provisions of the Agreement Iihal1 be panoflhe law

of MailS and enforceable as such. and any provisions of any other law

which is inconsistent with this Act Or the Agreement shall. with regard

10 the mallers referred 10 in Ihis Act or Ihe Agreemenl , be deemed

inupentive and unenforeeable.

(2) In this Act Ind in the schedule thereto , if there is any

ronnic:t between the English I nd Inyother text , the English lext shall

preni1.

(3) The period eSllblished by anide 18 of the Agreement .Ii

extended by Ihe common consent of the panies shall be operative for

the purpose of the Agreement.

(4) Copiesoftbe annexes to the Agreement which have been

laid on Ihe Table of the HotIse of Repre:\C ntatives shall be e nrolled by

the ~rnrrn:nl in Ihe records of llIe Q;"f Notary 10 lhe Government.

Immediately after section 1I of the Mortmain Act , there shall

be added the followi ng new section;

(1) With effect from such date as the Prime

-.P!'- Mini ster may by notice in the Gazenee establish (hereinafter

:'::~r.::! referred to as the effective date) any church or other pious or

10":' ono! religious institution shall, subject to the proviOOns of any law

'dealing with the acquisitioin 01 immovable property by non-

~. resjdenUi and of any othe r ordinary law of genera'

applicability have the right to acquire and hold possession of

immovable property in Malta without Iny obligation to

dispose of the same within any period and without any

restriction arising out of this Act as to its use and may

oontinue to hold any immovable property, which may have

been acquired by il before the effective date, without any

such obligation or restriction.

(2) The provisions of subsection (2) 01 section 6 of

this Act shall not apply to any deed therein referred 10

published on or after the: effective date .

(3) Any immovable property which on or before

tile effective date may have been forfeited to the Government

in virlue of thi s Act, and which on the effective date was still

in the possession or detention of a church or other pio us or

religious institution is hereby restored to tile church or other

pious or religious institution to which it belonged before it

was so forfeited ;

Provided that where any such property has been

disposed of before the effective date in aeoordance with the

provisions of this Act, although not within the lime

establislled therein or thereu nder, the provisions of thi s Act

shall be deemed to have been complied with and any such

disposa.l shall be deemed to have been validly made~.

12. "The Devolulion of Certain Church Property Ad , The "'. ~

De<:laration of Certain Rights (Burtbens for Masses) Orde r 1983 as Lr<. l6 0I 1'i1lf1

amended by the det:iaTllion of Certai n Righu (Burthel\$ for Masses)

(Ame ndment) Order, 1983 and the Compulsory Registration (Church L r<. "'011983

Property) Order. 1983 as amended by the Compulsory Registration LI'<.)1 ofllll!3

(Ch urch Property) (Amendment) Order 1983 are hereby repealed with LN . ~101ll111l

effect from the date of their enactment and the provisions of section 12 ,,",W

of the Interpretat ion Act shall not apply and tile Hid Act and Orders

repealed by Ihis section Shall be deemed never to have had effect.

A