Mr. Teimuraz Janjalia:

I start with Georgian citizens coming to Ireland to enjoy benefits. There are statistics that Georgian citizens were coming to Ireland looking for appropriate jobs. We are now working with the Irish Government to find ways to allow Georgian citizens to be legally in the country and get legal working permits. I was informed by my ambassador, as well as by a number of institutions, that Georgians are coming to Ireland. They are eager to get concrete work. They are working in an active and good manner to deliver on these directions. We are working with the Irish Government to frame this and bring it to the point where Georgian citizens will be allowed to get work permits and work in the country.

I turn to the current situation, and the risks inside and outside the country. We have a huge challenge in Georgia and on our external borders. We are the neighbouring country of the Russian Federation. The hybrid tools Russia is using around the world are also being actively used in Georgia.

Every day, we face these aggressive steps from them. We already have good experience in practice of how to deal with this. Of course, we need much more effective tools and supports from our partners to deal with what are already quite modern tools of hybrid warfare and the influential policy of the Russian Federation within the region. We are trying and managing to avoid the aggression and threats. As we have seen, and as members will be aware, popular support for EU integration among the Georgian population is now up to 90%. It is not just support from this year or last year; it has existed for decades and never dropped below 70%. This means the Georgian population understands the position very well and sees its future and goal as being within the European Union.

In 2014, the Georgian Government, with the Georgian Parliament, incorporated its main foreign policy directions, which entail EU integration and NATO integration, in its constitution through legislation. Nowadays, each Georgian Parliament and Government that comes into power is obliged to follow this and fulfil all the obligations on the integration process.

These integration processes are not easy, of course. The reforms we are carrying out are quite painful for our population, but this is understandable. For example, only last year did the Georgian Parliament adopt, on the basis of EU obligations, more than 100 new Acts that bring Georgia closer to the European Union. At the same time, however, there are new challenges. There should be some reforms and new regulations adopted within the country.

New institutions have been set up within the country. These are working towards Georgia's EU integration process. They are obliged, in accordance with EU obligations, to have more control and oversight, whether in the public sector or the business sector. This is regarded by the Georgian population as homework that should be done to reach the final goal. The Georgian Government, Parliament and public expect Georgia to be granted candidate status.

I mentioned Russia, hybrid warfare and all the disinformation spread by Russia. However, the expectation of the Georgian population is considerable. If Georgia, the only country in the enlargement package that does not have candidate status, misses its opportunity, it will be really dangerous for it as a country. Also, it would be dangerous for the European Union. As members know, the Russians are always acting on their observations on how to proceed further with their external policy, be it in the closest neighbourhood or wider region.

A question was asked about the concrete legislation that was proposed. This was proposed by the ruling party and discussed in the Georgian Parliament. It faced significant opposition from the Opposition parties within the Parliament and the non-governmental sector. If I am not mistaken, this issue was also discussed last year within the European Parliament. It wanted to regulate the direction somehow and have some modern European legislation. However, the Georgian Government and Parliament saw quite strong opposition, internally and from our partners abroad, so they immediately stopped discussions on the proposed law. It failed during the voting process. It means a political obligation of the Georgian Parliament and ruling parties is never to discuss the law again. Therefore, it is history. If I am not mistaken, it was abandoned in May of this year. It is not going to be back on the table within the Parliament for discussion. It is forgotten history already.