From Mr P. Milano

A question that always springs to mind after coming into contact with cultures and demographic profiles in central and northern Europe is “What about Euro-Med relations?” Yes, the highly industrial sectors of Europe are obviously commanding a lot of interest in the modelling of a strategic and combined Europe, but the Med and associated countries, Spain, Cyprus, Malta and the Eastern bloc alliances form a very special cultural sector of the EU and should not be overlooked or underclassified

I think the EU should try harder in the future, particularly the education of the young, because building the correct base for taking future policy decisions is crucial for the cultural development of the culture required to satisfy the need of this truly special and uncompromising land.

I for one cannot see why the EU could not apply its strategy of accession to each of the Mediterranean countries and discuss real improvement actions or plans for a community within the Med, which could be a spin off democracy from the main EU thus preserving the culture but abiding by the rules and conditions of monetary or judicial requirements as laid down in the central constitutional document or requirement.

The progress to date is steady. However, when there is change unpredictable situations can also arise; it is like dealing with a growing, evolving culture or organism. Sometimes it is because biological or environmental issues could not have been evaluated in the design stage. I refer to such things as temperature, social dependency, culture divisions, and the societal growth of a combined community managing inside a community of economical reform and commercial direction.

Does not the EU have to take both sides of this equation into consideration? I am sure they are attempting to do so. As with any new or revised recipe, who really knows what the finished article will be like until the process is complete? It is a little bit like baking a cake. Until the cook has finished baking the cake, no one knows if the mixture has been completely cooked to everyone’s satisfaction.

The recipe started out as a very well defined plan or commitment, but along the way many small inclusions or minor changes could have affected the quality of taste or texture; a case perhaps of too many cooks? Change is a fundamental requirement of life, but one person’s expectation is not the same as another’s so the need for consensus is of prime importance. Caring and sharing the same perceived values is a necessity for success, something that can be very difficult to achieve

in today’s competitive environment.

Everyone has their own agenda and special reason or cause for being. This is the driving force of life itself; without it nothing moves and nothing changes. As far as change is concerned there can be no change without movement, a bit of a Catch 22 situation, or one that just ends up with us chasing our tails until we are totally exhausted and collapse through sheer exhaustion or total frustration. What a loop to be locked in.

The situation was always inevitable as people and technology change at such a rapid pace. Obviously, the recovery periods for these two are totally different; machines or technological changes recover at a very fast pace but people might take a while longer. Some people never make the change, they just stay in a state of suspended animation, never finding the courage or need to challenge the status quo. This type of contentment or

stubbornness sometimes cannot be broken.

“People in organisations appear to be suffering from a disabling form of future shock. Individuals are often stressed from having to cope simultaneously with increased work loads and technological change.”

The cocoon at the moment is waiting for the right time to hatch. However the incubation period is a very sensitive time, much like the cook baking that cake. Hopefully, all the ingredients and flavourings have been added and when the time is up, the position it will take on the shelf along with the other cakes will be pride of place,

Paul Milano

ST JULIAN’S