European aid will top the agenda as the Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama meets Deputy Director General of the European Commission's Directorate General for Development Co operation, EuropeAid, Marcus Cornaro this hour.
The bilateral meeting is being held at the Fijian Resort and Spa which is also hosting the 13th ACP Ministerial Conference.
Marcus Cornaro arrived in the country over the weekend to discuss the priority areas for future European Union Fiji development co operation under the 11th European Development Fund for the period 2014 2020.
Cornaro said he is pleased to visit Fiji at this time of optimism, and to witness the momentum that is driving Fiji towards a return to democracy.
Cornaro said a constitution has been adopted, and the European Union is looking forward to genuine and democratic elections and once these have taken place, they hope to be able to resume full development co operation with Fiji.
Meanwhile Commodore Bainimarama said now more than ever, we need a united front and at the same time understanding, and a fair deal from our European partners on the price of sugar.
Over 100 ministers and delegates from the African Carribean and Pacific group of countries are attending this Ministerial Conference.
He said the EU has remained a key market for our sugar exports despite some major challenges that our small and vulnerable economies have had to grapple with in recent years.
Commodore Bainimarama said as we make the transition from preferential price arrangement to the new Economic Partnership Agreements, it is critical that adequate support and time are provided to ACP sugar producing countries.
The Prime Minister highlighted that for Fiji this support has been sorely lacking.
Commodore Bainimarama said disbursement of the promised Accompanying Measures Support Program has been politicised and Fiji has not received the fair share owed to it.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
