TBILISI. Sept 7 (Interfax) - Georgia has a lot of work to do to obtain EU candidate status, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, who is visiting Tbilisi, has said.
"First, I want to stress that Georgia is an important partner for the European Union. And this is a crucial time for your future because in a few weeks the EU will consider next steps in Georgia accession to the European Union path and for the first time the report on Georgia progress as an enlargement country," Borrell told reporters on Thursday.
"And I want to be very clear at this important moment, the European Union door is open to Georgia and the European Union is committed to support Georgia on its path towards the EU membership [...]. But I have to say also that a European Union application is a serious commitment. A candidate status is not something that countries are entitled to. It needs to be earned through serious reforms and adherence to the EU values, and to be frank, there is still quite a bit of a work to be done," he said.
At the same time, he recalled the need for Georgia to fulfill the 12 recommendations of the European Commission required for obtaining candidate status.
"Georgia should use the short remaining time to address the key reforms requirements," Borrell said.
Borrell said he intended to meet with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, and Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, and hold meetings in parliament and with members of civil society in Tbilisi.