28/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Relations still complex between Minsk and the EU. In 2013, the EU remained committed to its policy of critical engagement towards Belarus, said the European Commission in its report of the neighbourhood policy 2013, which was published on 27 March. The EU continued its support for civil society and the population, including as part of the European dialogue for modernisation. It continued its cooperation through the multilateral plank of the Eastern Partnership and in technical dialogues on specific subjects. The European External Action Service and the Belarusian minister for foreign affairs held meetings to launch “a transition phase” over the course of which opportunities for improving the dialogue could be sought, says the Commission. However, the EU remains concerned by the human rights situation - including the death penalty and political prisoners, and the crackdown on civil society and the democratic opposition. The Commission extended its sanctions against 232 people and 25 entities. (CG)