Brussels, Mar29 (IANS): The European Union (EU) has praised the Myanmar government for "remarkable programme of political reform" in the country over the last year.

"The release of political prisoners, the continuing dialogue between the government and the opposition, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are all important positive developments, as is the ongoing effort to secure peace with armed ethnic groups and the commitment to economic reform," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.

She noted that the forthcoming by-elections in Myanmar April 1 are a key moment in national reconciliation and said the EU has decided to deploy a small team of experts to be present on election day, the EuAsiaNews reported Wednesday.

The EU expects these elections to take place according to internationally accepted standards, and that the authorities will take actions against serious violations, added Ashton.

Myanmar authorities had released pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2010 after she had been under detention for over a decade.

Her release comes after the Union Solidarity and Development Party supported by the military won the country's first election in 20 years the same year.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi heads the National League for Democracy (NLD) party that will now contest the upcoming elections.