Mr. Teimuraz Janjalia:

Regarding the process we have undergone and are following when it comes to the obligations and work carried out by Georgia related to the EU integration process, I underline that this process did not start just yesterday or one week, month or year ago. For a decade already, we have been implementing concrete reforms and following all the obligations coming from the association agreement, which is still the main document when it comes to Georgia-EU relations. This document paves the way for the reforms we are carrying out in my country. At this moment, we have implemented between 50% and 52% of the association agreement and between 60% and 65% of the DCFTA.

That is not our assessment; it is the assessment of the Brussels-based institutions that study such things. We are devoted to continuing this process and to finalising it, which means implementing up to 80% of this agreement by 2025. We are now part of the enlargement package, and accept the association agreement and the DCFTA. We have certain obligations within the enlargement package. We are the only country without candidacy status within this enlargement package. However, I hope we will be a European Union candidate state from 15 December. We have this obligation and are continuing this process.

The Deputy mentioned some concrete internal and external challenges for Georgia. The main external challenge already lies on our path when it comes to European Union and NATO integration. The main reason behind the aggressive policy of this specific country towards Georgia, is Georgia's willingness to be a part of the civilised world, of the European Union and NATO. This country has always tried to stop Georgia from moving towards its main targets. We never did it. On the contrary, even when we had a war with the Russian Federation in 2008, we accelerated the processes of EU and NATO integration and of reform in my country. I mentioned earlier that we do not expect to be granted something. We expect to be assessed properly, and in the way we deserve. We are asking our partners to follow this, and be supportive in this direction. I hope, starting next year, that Georgia, as a candidate state, will accelerate the process of reform. I have already mentioned that we have certain frames and programmes for where we would like to be. We would like to be more active when it comes to sectoral co-operation. We would like to be more active and engaged to feel some concrete benefits from the European Union, as was the case when we had a free trade agreement and a visa-free agreement with the European Union. Our citizens still enjoy visa-free travel within the European Union. We hope to become part of the common roaming area and the single euro payments area within the next year. When I was in Brussels I got some positive messages that the European Union is ready and devoted to deliver concrete results, and make some concrete practices a reality for Georgia. I hope we will be successful on this path. I also hope for the support of the European institutions and EU member states towards Georgia, which will step up its new level of integration with the European Union.