A group of Maltese emigrants on Wednesday kept their annual appointment with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, who hosted them at San Anton Palace, Attard.

The meeting, which the Emigrants’ Commission has been organising for decades for those who visit the motherland in summer, included 57 people who are currently living in Australia, Canada and Germany.

Director of the Commission Fr Alfred Vella noted that this annual meeting with the President had picked up steam in the 1980s, when it was affordable and more feasible for emigrants to visit Malta.

Ms Coleiro Preca expressed her wish to maintain a link with Malta’s emigrants. Although they lived far away from home, they were still in the Maltese people’s hearts, she said, while also commending their integration efforts, which helped them become part of the communities of the countries hosting them.

The Emigrants’ Commission is a voluntary organisation that was established to support people through free services, counselling and protection.

The commission came into being in 1950 following the large exodus of Maltese citizens from the country due to overpopulation and unemployment.

The aim was to provide help to those who intended to settle abroad. Now its services cover all those affected by migration including immigrants, refugees and tourists.