Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has reminded the Joint ACP-EU parliamentary assembly of the hundreds of millions of ordinary men and women in the 79 ACP countries who look to the delegates to empower them more and improve their standard of living.

Bainimarama made the comment at the opening of the meeting in Suva this morning

The 29th Session of the Joint ACP-EU Parliamentary session has been opened.

EU Core President Louis Michel has thanked Fiji for agreeing to host the assembly initially scheduled to be held in Vanuatu.

The destruction caused by Cyclone Pam has resulted in Vanuatu not being able to host the Session.

The 3 day Session will discuss important and pending issues for the ACP and EU regions. The key debate will see discussions on various issues relating to the seas and oceans with presentations by leading experts.

With climate change a common factor to many of the States in the region, the Assembly will also discuss issues regarding Climate Change as well as biodiversity, deep sea mining, fisheries and piracy.

The debate is also expected to highlight some policies and funding required to alleviate problems related to climate change as well as human activity in the sea.

The Assembly will also discuss recommendations stressing the importance of respect for human rights standards and will call on ACP and EU members States to ratify and implement international and regional Human Rights Conventions.

It will also debate an urgent resolution on the natural disaster in Vanuatu, including the need for regional cooperation.

The ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly will end on Wednesday.