Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has raised Fiji’s lack of visa free access to Schengen countries amid a wide-ranging discussion with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, on areas of mutual interest between Fiji and the European Union.

At the meeting, held in Brussels, Prime Minister Bainimarama requested urgent action be taken to grant Fiji visa free access to the Schengen zone, given that Fiji has already met the requirements for visa free travel and had submitted a formal request to the EU in 2015.

He also cited the visa free status already granted to many other Pacific Island countries.

Prime Minister Bainimarama also briefed Mr Tusk on Fiji’s plans as President of the 23rd session of the United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP-23), and sought EU support for Fiji’s agenda.

President Tusk commended Fiji’s rapid development, particularity the work undertaken to reform Fiji’s sugar industry, and assured the EU’s full support to Fiji through the EU representative in Fiji, Andrew Jacobs.

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