Before receiving the designation of a candidate for membership in the European Union, Josep Borrell, the head of the EU’s foreign policy, said on Tuesday that Georgia must quicken changes in areas like the rule of law, judicial independence, and media freedom.

Irakli Garibashvili, the prime minister of Georgia, and Borrell met in Brussels to discuss Georgia’s application for membership in the EU. “These areas are crucial when it comes to European values and principles, and we count on Georgia’s effort to address the existing shortcomings,” Borrell told reporters.

At a summit in June, EU leaders granted Ukraine and its neighbor Moldova candidate status, while Georgia, another former Soviet state, was told it would get the same once it has fulfilled more conditions.

“European Union accession is a merit-based process, there are no short-cuts and no magic involved, it’s not a matter of political declarations,” Borrell said, calling Georgia one of the EU’s closest friends and partners.

Garibashvili said his country belonged in the family of European democracies “where we share common values, have common goals and promote peace and solidarity”.

Georgia is fully committed to fulfil the conditions set by the EU, the prime minister said.

“Developing connectivity between the EU and Georgia, especially in the Black Sea, promises important benefits to the wider region – especially given the current geopolitical context and the major challenges we all face like energy security, food security,” he noted, referring to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“We have invited our EU colleagues to tap into the unique possibility that Georgia as a potential key transit hub on (the) EU’s global connectivity map can offer.”

Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war over Georgia’s pro-Russian breakaway region South Ossetia, population 53,000, in 2008.

While Georgia considers South Ossetia part of its territory, Russia says it is an independent country and increased its military presence there during and after the conflict.