History matters for the EU’s geopolitical ambitions. EPC Commentary July 2021.

While Europe has a decent record in dealing with the consequences of its bloody modern history, it is only now beginning to confront the collective amnesia regarding its behaviour during the colonial era. If the Union wants to realise its geopolitical ambition to be a global player, EU leaders should deal with the impact of past colonial misdeeds head-on and ensure that EU diplomats and younger Europeans are aware of how our history affects the present. Europeans have warmly embraced US President Joe Biden as a friend and partner. As they seek more geopolitical impact, EU leaders would do well to also listen to the president’s views on history and the power of remembrance. Speaking on the centenary of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, Biden urged Americans to be honest about their history, insisting that great nations “come to terms with their dark sides”

Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the Age of Connectivity. EUC Asia-Europe Meeting 11, 1916

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was launched in 1996 with an inaugural summit in Bangkok. Since then, the Summits have been held biennially, alternating between Asia and Europe. The 11th ASEM Summit which coincides with the 20th anniversary of ASEM will be hosted by Mongolia on 15-16 July 2016. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of ASEM, the European Union Centre in Singapore with the support of the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared this booklet on “Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the Age of Connectivity”. This booklet gives an analytical account of ASEM’s history and background, assesses ASEM’s developments and achievements since the inaugural summit, and provides some thoughts on the future of ASEM. With political commitment and imagination, ASEM can become a platform to generate new ideas for cooperation and strengthen Asia-Europe connectivity and partnership for a better world

Evaluation of immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine in BALB/c mice

Modulation of the immune system has recently been shown to be involved in the pharmacological effects of old antiepileptic drugs and in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. Therefore, the most recent guidelines for immunotoxicological evaluation of drugs were consulted to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine, a newer antiepileptic drug, in BALB/c mice. These included the in vivo effects of lamotrigine on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antigens, hemagglutination titer assays and hematological changes. In vitro effects of lamotrigine on ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation and cytokine secretion were assessed. The results showed that lamotrigine treatment significantly increased the DTH response to SRBC in the mouse model of this study. This was accompanied by a significant increase in relative monocyte and neutrophil counts and in spleen cellularity. Lamotrigine significantly inhibited ConA-induced splenocyte proliferation in vitro and it significantly inhibited IL-2 and TNF-α secretion in ConA-stimulated splenocytes. In conclusion, the results demonstrated significant immunomodulatory effects of lamotrigine in BALB/c mice. These data could expand the understanding of lamotrigine-induced adverse reactions and its role in modulating the immune system in epilepsy

Milan summit could mark turning point for Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/Shada Islam, Director of Policy at Friends of Europe, explains that "for many in Asia, the EU is the prime partner to deal with non-traditional security dilemmas, including food, water and energy security as well as climate change. The EU remains an inspiration for Asia's own regional integration initiatives, including ASEAN, and in areas such as rules-based collective security.

EU–South Asia relations in the 21st century: Rethink, reimagine, reshape. EPC Commentary 2021.

Amid the intense competition underway between the US and China and the increasing presence of Russia, China, Turkey, Iran and Britain in the Indo-Pacific, the EU must build better bilateral relations with all South Asian countries – and not just India. It should reassess its traditional trade and aid approach and use a strategic lens to upgrade its relations with the region, both bilaterally and via a region-wide approach

Co-opting Japan. by Shada Islam

EC seeks Tokyo's cooperation on aid to Asia