ASEM is an annual meeting between officials from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union. Burma has become a significant obstacle to ASEM because of the regime's pariah status. As a member of ASEAN, Burma insists on attending ASEM meetings. The European Union refuses to allow senior officials of the regime to enter Europe because of their record of human rights abuses, forced labor, repression of democracy and collaboration in narcotics trafficking.