28/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - Cooperation with regime suspended, but aid to people continues. Although the EU has suspended all of its bilateral cooperation with the regime and frozen the planned association agreement due to the conflict, the Union's efforts to provide the population with direct assistance continues, the Commission announced on Thursday 27 March. Since the conflict broke out, the EU and its member states have provided more than €1.5 billion in humanitarian aid and more than €3 billion in aid in kind. In 2013, €45 million were allocated to Syria under the neighbourhood and partnership instrument, on top of the humanitarian aid, to provide long-term assistance and increase the resilience of the population affected by the crisis. The EU also continues to support non-state players and civil society. The Tempus and Erasmus programmes with students and universities in Syria also continue. (CG)