The European Commission said Fiji's Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama met with Commission officials discussing the prospects for progress, and most notably the National Dialogue Forum.

In a statement from the European Commission, it states the meeting covered the essential elements of the Cotonou Agreement which are human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law. This situation was discussed together with the prospects for progress, and in this context a number of matters were raised.

One of the issues raised include the Government's initiative concerning a National Dialogue Forum, freedom of expression and more generally the Government's planned reform programs, as well as matters pertaining to the 1997 Constitution.

According to the statement the meeting was a valuable exchange of information, adding it was cordial and constructive, and hopefully inaugurates a process, which could lead to formal consultations between Fiji and the EU under the Contonou Agreement with the purpose of reaching a comprehensive agreement.