More You Should Know about Hercules

More You Should Know about Hercules What You Should Know About Hercules | More You Should Know About Hercules | 12 Labors Hercules (Greek: Heracles/Herakles) Basics: Hercules was Apollo and Dionysus half-brother through their father Zeus. Disguised as Amphitryon, Zeus paid a conjugal visit to Amphitryons wife, Hercules mother, the Mycenaean princess Alcmene. Hercules and his twin, mortal, half-brother Iphicles, son of Alcmene and the real Amphitryon, were in their cradle when a pair of snakes visited them. Hercules happily strangled the snakes, possibly sent by Hera or Amphitryon. This inaugurated an extraordinary career that included the well-known 12 labors Hercules performed for his cousin Eurystheus. Here are more of Hercules feats with which you should be familiar. Education Hercules was talented in many areas. Castor of the Dioscuri taught him to fence, Autolycus taught him to wrestle, King Eurytus of Oechalia in Thessaly taught him archery, and Orpheus brother Linus, son of Apollo or Urania, taught him to play the lyre. [Apollodorus.] Cadmus is usually attributed with introducing letters into Greece, but Linus taught Hercules, and the not very academically inclined Hercules broke a chair over Linus head and killed him. Elsewhere, Cadmus is credited with killing Linus for the honor of introducing writing to Greece. [Source: Kerenyi, Heroes of the Greeks] Hercules and the Daughters of Thespius King Thespius had 50 daughters and wanted Hercules to impregnate them all. Hercules, who went hunting with King Thespius each day, was unaware that each nights woman was different (although he may not have cared), and so he impregnated 49 or 50 of them. The women gave birth to 51 sons who are said to have colonized Sardinia. Hercules and the Minyans or How He Acquired His First Wife The Minyans were exacting a heavy tribute from Thebes the usually cited birthplace of the hero while it was ruled by King Creon. Hercules encountered the Minyan ambassadors en route to Thebes and cut off their ears and noses, made them wear their bits as necklaces, and sent them back home. The Minyans sent retaliatory a military force, but Hercules defeated it and freed Thebes from the tribute. Creon rewarded him with his daughter, Megara, for his wife. The Augean Stables Reprised, With Dishonor King Augeas had refused to pay Hercules for cleaning his stables during the 12 Labors, so Hercules led a force against Augeas and his twin nephews. Hercules contracted a disease and asked for a truce, but the twins knew it was too good an opportunity to miss. They continued to try to annihilate Hercules forces. When the Isthmian Games were about to begin, the twins set out for them, but by this time, Hercules was on the mend. After dishonorably attacking and killing them, Hercules went to Elis where he installed Augeas son, Phyleus, on the throne in place of his treacherous father. More Hercules Dishonor Madness Euripides tragedy Hercules Furens is one of the sources for the madness of Hercules. The story, like most of those involving Hercules, has confusing and contradictory details, but in essence, Hercules, returning from the Underworld in some confusion, mistook his own sons, ones he had with Creons daughter Megara, for those of Eurystheus. Hercules killed them and would have continued his murderous rampage had Athena not lifted the (Hera-sent) madness or ate. Many consider the 12 Labors Hercules performed for Eurystheus his atonement. Hercules may have married Megara to his nephew Iolaus before leaving Thebes forever. Hercules Fight With Apollo Iphitus was the son of Apollos grandson Eurytus, who was the father of the beautiful Iole. In Book 21 of the Odyssey, Odysseus obtains the bow of Apollo when he helps in the hunt for Eurytus mares. Another part of the story is that when Iphitus came to Hercules looking for the missing dozen mares, Hercules welcomed him as a guest, but then hurled him to his death from a tower. This was another dishonorable murder for which Hercules needed to atone. The provocation may have been that Eurytus denied him the prize of his daughter, Iole, that Hercules had won in a bow-shooting contest. Possibly in search of atonement, Hercules arrived at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, where as a murderer he was denied sanctuary. Hercules took the opportunity to steal the tripod and cauldron of Apollos priestess. Apollo came after him and was joined by his sister, Artemis. On Hercules side, Athena joined the fight. It took Zeus and his thunderbolts to put an end to the fighting, but Hercules still hadnt made atonement for his act of murder. Apollo, Asclepius, and Admetus On a related note, Apollo and Hercules both confronted Laomedon, an early king of Troy who refused to pay either Apollo or Hercules. Hercules and Omphale For atonement, Hercules was to endure a similar term to the one Apollo had served with Admetus. Hermes sold Hercules as a slave to the Lydian queen Omphale. In addition to getting her pregnant and tales of transvestism, the story of the Cercopes and the Black-bottomed Hercules comes from this period. Omphale (or Hermes) also set Hercules to work for a treacherous robber named Syleus. With wanton vandalism, Hercules demolished the thiefs property, killed him, and married his daughter, Xenodike. Hercules Last Mortal Wife Deianeira The final phase of Hercules mortal life involves his wife Deianeira, daughter of Dionysus (or King Oineus) and Althaia. Exchange and the Maiden When Hercules was taking his bride home, the centaur Nessus was to ferry her across the Euenos River. The details are varied, but Hercules shot Nessus with poisoned arrows when he heard the screaming of his bride being ravaged by the centaur. The centaur persuaded Deianeira to fill her water jug with blood from his wound, assuring her it would be a potent love potion when next Hercules eye started to wander. Instead of being a love potion, it was a potent poison. When Deianeira thought Hercules was losing interest, preferring Iole to herself, she sent him a robe drenched in the centaurs blood. As soon as Hercules put it on his skin burned intolerably. Poisoned Clothing Hercules wanted to die  but was having trouble finding someone to set his funeral pyre alight so he could self-immolate. Finally, Philoctetes or his father agreed and received Hercules bow and arrows as a thanks offering. These turned out to be essential weapons required by the Greeks to win the Trojan War. As Hercules burned, he was taken to the gods and goddesses where he gained full immortality and Heras daughter Hebe for his final wife. Philoctetes - The Difficult PatientBulfinch: Hercules - Hebe and GanymedeDeath of Hercules

Core and Periphery, Two Types That Make the World

Core and Periphery, Two Types That Make the World The countries of the world can be divided into two major world regions: the core and the periphery. The core includes major world powers and the countries that contain much of the wealth of the planet. The periphery has those countries that are not reaping the benefits of global wealth and globalization. The Theory of Core and Periphery Many reasons exist as to why this global structure has formed, but generally speaking, there are many barriers, physical and political, that prevent the poorer citizens of the world from participating in global relations. The disparity of wealth between core and periphery countries is staggering. Oxfam noted that 82 percent of the worlds 2017 income went to the richest one percent of people. The Core The top 20 countries ranked by the United Nations Human Development Index are all in the core. However, of note is the slowing, stagnant, and occasionally declining population growth of these countries. The opportunities created by these advantages perpetuate a world driven by individuals in the core. People in positions of power and influence around the world are often brought up or educated in the core (nearly 90 percent of world leaders have a degree from a Western university). The Periphery The population is skyrocketing in the periphery because of a number of contributing factors, including a limited ability to move and the use of children as a means to support a family, among others. Many people living in rural areas perceive opportunities in cities and take action to migrate there, even though there are not enough jobs or housing to support them. About one billion people now live in slum conditions, the UN estimates, and the majority of population growth around the world is occurring in the periphery. The rural-to-urban migration and high birth rates of the periphery are creating both megacities, urban areas with more than eight million people, and hyper cities, urban areas with more than 20 million people. These cities, such as Mexico City or Manila, have slum areas that can contain up to two million people with little infrastructure, rampant crime, no health care, and massive unemployment. Core-Periphery Roots in Colonialism Industrialized nations played a key role in establishing political regimes during postwar reconstruction. English and the Romance languages remain the state languages for many non-European countries long after their foreign colonists have packed up and gone home. This makes it difficult for anyone brought up speaking a local language to assert him or herself in a Eurocentric world. Also, public policy formed by Western ideas may not provide the best solutions for non-Western countries and their problems. Core-Periphery in Conflict Here are some examples of border clashes between nations of the core and the periphery: The growing fence between the U.S. (core) and Mexico (periphery) to prevent the entrance of unauthorized immigrants.The Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.Air and naval patrols on the waters between Australia and Southeast Asia and between the EU and North Africa to keep out unwanted immigrants.The UN-enforced border separating the Turkish north and Greek south of Cyprus, known as the Green Line. The core-periphery model is not limited to a global scale, either. Stark contrasts in wages, opportunities, access to health care, and so on among a local or national population are commonplace. The United States, the quintessential beacon for equality, exhibits some of the most obvious examples. U.S. Census Bureau data estimated that the top 20 percent of wage earners made up roughly 51 percent of all U.S. income in 2016, and the top five percent of earners made 22 percent of all U.S. income. For a local perspective, witness the slums of Anacostia, whose impoverished citizens live a stones throw from the grand marble monuments that represent the power and affluence of Washington, D.C.s central downtown. Although the world may be metaphorically shrinking for the minority in the core, the world maintains a rough and limiting geography for the majority in the periphery.

Executive Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Executive Summary - Essay Example Health records are very important in the health sectors. All the people involved be it doctors, nurses, technicians or even the patients require the health records in one way or another. The high numbers of people being attended to have led to there being numerous health records which are in the form of sheets and files. Despite taking up a lot of space for storage, it becomes very difficult to trace the records when they are needed and hence crippling the effectiveness of the health sector (European Working Conference on Electronic Health Records 2002). I would like to propose that the health sector be provided with digital systems of data storage. This summary will discuss the usefulness of the digital systems of information storage in the health sector and how they will benefit the each team player in the sector. Implementation of the project will reduce the cumbersome experience of tracking down health records of an individual patient. The project will entail purchasing of computers and tablets which will be used to store records of patients. The project will also entail the creation of a network whereby all the information on one patient can be accessed by any medical officer in the hospital. The project will eliminate the analogue process of writing down information on hospital cards and passing them from one department to the other as the patient undergoes treatment in the hospital. Retrieval of health information on a patient will be easy and will be a guide to the doctors on the kind treatment to give to the patient when they come to the hospital a second time. Outpatient attendance will be fast since the information required to attend to them will be available on a single click. Doctors, technicians and nurses will not need to move from one department to another to make enquiries sinc e the network system will ease communication. After full

An Examination of Men in Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

An Examination of Men in Nursing - Essay Example The other critical part in the paper is the literature review that focuses mainly on the studies and research conducted by varied scholars and researchers pertaining to the men serving in the nursing profession. Methodology happens to be the last part of this paper and it focuses mainly on the selected methods of data collection, methods of data analysis, the sample description and the limitations associated with the proposed research. Introduction The government, health care employers, professional nursing organizations and the academic institutions have a pivotal role to play in assuring that there is a continued supply of adequate and sufficient number of nurses in the health care system serving an ever aging population and an enhanced demand for health care services in the United States of America and other developed economies like Canada (LaRocco 2007:259). Currently the United States of America is facing a dire shortage of the nurses irrespective of the fact that the profession is critical for the society. This shortage of nurses has led to many men joining the nursing profession. ... Irrespective of being a minority in the nursing profession, men have been noticed to bring a higher degree of comfort in varied aspects of patient care. Stereotyping is one of the major factors that have led to men being a minority in the nursing profession. Stereotyping has hitherto greatly influenced the number of men joining the nursing services (Hess-Biber and carter 2005). However, the reality is that men nurses have been there since the ancient times (Tranberger 2007). Yet, in the last two centuries, the ever growing demand for nurses has made it impossible for the traditionally white, female nurses to cater to this change. This has encouraged a rapid entry of men in the nursing services. History testifies to the fact that men can serve well as nurses, when given the opportunity and can in fact serve with distinction if given a chance to do so. This has also encouraged women to pursue medical courses in the medical schools. However, it has not been so in the past when the men w ere known to dominate the medical schools. Recent researches have shown that in future the shortage of nurses will exceed three times the current shortage maximum point (Auerbach et al 2007). Another research related with the same issue has shown that the projected shortage of nurses could be dealt with by allowing more men to enter the nursing profession. This could be achieved by encouraging more men to enter the nursing schools and to join the nursing profession. Women who constitute a majority in this profession ought to be encouraged to keep what has always been theirs, and should be expected to motivate their male counterparts to enter the nursing profession, and compete in this field that is

Python Programming Language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Python Programming Language - Essay Example In addition, python language integrates amazing control with extremely clear and simple language syntax or python programming rules. Moreover, it offers user interfaces to a lot of system calls, built-in libraries, and to a variety of window systems. Thus, we can say that the python language has the power to be integrated within C++ or C capabilities. On the other hand, it can also work as an extendable language for programs that require a programmable user working interface. In short, python is a high level programming language which offers a great deal of portability facility because it executes on a lot of UNIX platforms, Personal Computers under MS-DOS, Macintosh system, and Windows based systems like Windows NT and OS/2 platform (Python Software Foundation, 2011; Snyder, 2007; Cai, Langtangen, & Moe, 2005). This report presents a detailed overview of python programming language. ... Additionally, it can be utilized for the development of various types of application programs and software. The basic design principle of the python language highlights the programmer efficiency and program code interpretation. Python was at first developed by Guido van Rossum. The development of python was encouraged by Haskell, ABC, LIST programming, Java, Perl and Icon programming languages used for various purposes. Python programming language is a high level, extensive, construed and multi-platform programming language. In addition, python programming language is a smallest programming language. However, the most attractive characteristic of python programming language is that it does not make use of any sort of brackets or semicolons in source code. In its place, python utilizes indentation technique (Bodnar, 2010; Hightower, 2001). Moreover, python programming language comes in two versions. In this scenario, these versions of python programming language are 3.x and 2.x. The P ython 3.x has cracked backward compatibility issues with earlier editions of python language. It was made to rectify a number of design defects of the language as well as enable enhanced capability of the language (Bodnar, 2010; Hightower, 2001). History of Python Python programming language was initially developed by Guido von Rossum during 1990s. This name of language was established due to Brit-com Monty Python's Flying Circus. This programming language has since been updated and improved by a large number of members or helpers as well as can be downloaded without paying any cost from the Python Software Foundation. Additionally, the latest edition of Python, 2.5, was brought to public in 2006. Python programming language is currently established in a lot of

Writing and Communication Essay Example for Free

Writing and Communication Essay * What is the most common form of written communication in your workplace or in a workplace with which you are familiar? Is expository writing or technical writing the most common form of written communication in this workplace? Who is responsible for most of the technical writing in this workplace? I am working at an IT related firm. The most common form of communication in our organization is Mail and technical writing. Most of the time associates have to inform the managers for their updates, requirements, suggestions and grievances in form of Mail. Technical writing is also dominant in our organization as the products are technical. The technical writing responsibility is not shouldered by some individual. It depends upon the modules and team. Every team has someone to take care of technical writing as they work on different products and only the team members know better about that product. * What are some common issues you have seen with written communication in the workplace? One of the most difficult issues faced daily in our organization because of written communication is doubt clearance. It happens when we write a mail to some client or our team at different locations. If any doubt comes up, then it becomes very hard to solve it as further writing only adds to trouble. At last we have to go for voice communication which is costly. * How can an organization benefit from well-written communication? An organization can benefit very well if the written communication is effective. On of the biggest advantage of written communication is record of communication. In long term it benefits the organization. Because of written communication an organization can defend itself in case of any legal issue or problem. It also helps in having policies, rules and principles lay down properly and effectively. Also, in form of task assignment written communication appears to be handy. * How do written communication skills differ from verbal communication skills? What are the challenges a skilled verbal communicator might encounter when performing technical writing? Written communication skill differs very well from verbal skills. Written communication has to be more precise and to the point as it does not have any verbal expression to show the meaning hidden. In written communication one cannot come again to repeat or correct the sentence written in case it is perceived wrong by audiences, what we have in verbal communication. For a verbal communicator almost all its leverages become trouble in written communication. He has got to be precise and accurate. He/she will not be allowed to correct himself with facial expression. He cannot emphasize the sentence or dilute the meaning of a sentence with change in tone. In summary he has got to be precise and to the point.

The European Neighbourhood Policy Politics Essay

The European Neighbourhood Policy Politics Essay Because of the big-bang enlargement to the East, in May 2004 the European Union acquired ten new member states and simultaneously several new neighbours. At about the same time, it began to flesh out a European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) to make sure that the newly enlarged Union would be surrounded by a ring of friends.  [1]  Specifically, in March 2003 the Commission presented its Communication Wider Europe Neighbourhood: A new Framework for relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours,  [2]  followed by a Strategy Paper on the ENP in May 2004.  [3]   In general, the ENP is the EUs mechanism for ensuring the maintenance of shared values beyond its borders. In other words, it provides the EU with additional tools for fostering new neighbours. Its objectives like stability, prosperity and co-operation help the EU to develop a privileged relationship with its neighbours while it also offers many other advantages to them, building upon a mutual commitment with them. On the other hand, it must be underlined that the EU faces some daunting challenges in its relations with its neighbours. Because of this, not only the ENPs aim to bring some order to the EUs relations with its neighbours but also the effort to develop a privileged and mutual relationship between them, are prevented in a great extent. So, does the ENP really provide the suitable structure for dealing with the main challenges? This essay will first present and analyse the substance of the ENP. It will then scrutinize its results and, finally it will criticize and evaluate the ENP taking into consideration the invectives that it offers and the challenges that the EU faces in its relations with its neighbours. The substance of the ENP The ENP framework is proposed to the 16 of EUs closest neighbours Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine. Russia has its own special relationship with the EU and it is not part of the ENP. More precisely, the ENP was developed in 2004, with the objective of avoiding new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbours and instead strengthening the prosperity, stability and security of all.  [4]   The 2004 enlargement brought the EU closer to the east and as a result created an instant need to ensure that the wider neighbourhood was stable to avoid the risk of instability overflowing into the larger EU.  [5]  As the European Commission has noted: Existing differences in living standards across the Unions borders with its neighbours may be accentuated as a result of faster growth in the new Member States than in their external neighbours; common challenges in fields such as the environment, public health, and the prevention of and fight against organised crime will have to be addressed; efficient and secure border management will be essential both to protect our shared borders and to facilitate legitimate trade and passage.  [6]  Moreover, the enlargement fatigue was established and the EU wanted to fend off yet another round of enlargement. Hence, the ENP was launched to deal with all of these challenges.  [7]   The ENP also includes the countries of the southern Mediterranean, though the dividing line between the EU and these countries was not shifted with the 2004 enlargement, and the problems posed by those borders have long been a concern. The southern Mediterranean countries were included in the ENP to balance the EUs southern and eastern dimensions, responding to concerns of southern member and non-member states.  [8]   The ENP, which is primarily a bilateral policy between the EU and each partner country, is further enriched with regional and multilateral co-operation initiatives: the Eastern Partnership (launched in Prague in May 2009), the Union for the Mediterranean (the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, formerly known as the Barcelona Process, re-launched in Paris in July 2008), and the Black Sea Synergy (launched in Kiev in February 2008).  [9]   The ENP is first and foremost an attempt to create good neighbours, who conform not only to EU values (democracy and human rights, rule of law, good governance, market economy principles and sustainable development) but also the EU standards and laws in specific economic and social areas. A secondary aspect of the ENP is to prevent the emergence of new dividing lines as mentioned earlier, through a variety of means including more cross-border cooperation.  [10]   Specifically, in attempting to stop the emergence of new dividing lines in Europe, the Commission has two broad approaches: firstly, to encourage and support financially the inclusion of the neighbours in European networks of all kinds such as transport, research and education, energy, environment, culture and so on and, secondly, to foster cross-border cooperation and specially concrete projects to link neighbouring regions across the EUs new border. The Commission is simplifying as well the funding of such programmes, which has been complicated.  [11]   In this point, it must be mentioned that, the ENP remains distinct from the process of enlargement. However, it does not prejudge for European neighbours how their relationship with the EU may develop in future in accordance with Treaty provisions. According to the ENP framework, the EU offers all but institutions to the neighbours: as much it can do without actually enlarging.  [12]   Plus, in early 2004 the Commission began preparing Actions Plans for the most advanced neighbours. The Action Plans are central to the ENP (12 of them were agreed) and they set out an agenda of political and economic reforms with short and medium-term priorities of 3 to 5 years. The ENP is not yet fully activated for Algeria, Belarus, Libya and Syria since those have not agreed Action Plans.  [13]   The Action Plans are supposed to be differentiated according to the various neighbours specific circumstances, and drawn up after held with each neighbour. Promoting joint ownership of the plans should better ensure that the neighbours will meet the objectives set out in them. Each country individually determines the nature and strength of its relationship with the EU.  [14]  In addition, other political objectives prominent in the Action Plans are cooperation in the fight against terrorism and on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and ensuring international justice through support for the International Criminal Court.  [15]   Furthermore, from January 2007 the European Neighbourhood Policy and Strategic Partnership with Russian Federation are financed through a single instrument the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). It is designed to target sustainable development and approximation to EU policies and standards supporting the agreed priorities in the ENP Action Plans, as well as Strategic Partnership with Russia. In detail, it encourages economic integration and political cooperation between the EU and the neighbours, promotes sustainable development and poverty reduction, and addresses security and stability challenges posed by geographical proximity to the EU.  [16]   The results of the ENP The ENP has shown that it offers a solid basis for strengthening ties between the EU and its neighbours. It has opened the policy to all eastern and southern neighbours who share EUs commitments to democracy, open society and economic prosperity. And, as countries go further down the reform path more possibilities (more financial support, integration with the EUs internal market, participation in the EUs policies and programmes) for closer cooperation with the EU open up to them.  [17]   Since the ENP policy was proposed, good progress has been made on developing and implementing the main instruments of the ENP the presentation of 12 Country Reports, the adoption of 12 ENP Action Plans, implementation and monitoring through relevant subcommittees, adoption of a new instrument (Neighbourhood Investment Facility -NIF) to better provide assistance to these countries in support of the objectives agreed in the Action Plans.  [18]   The NIF was established at the end of 2007 and it is a significant source of funding for the neighbourhood. The Facility funds projects of common interest focussing mainly on energy, environment and transport. A Governance Facility has been set up too. It provides additional support to countries that have made most progress in implementing governance reforms.  [19]   Moreover, for the Financial Framework 2007-2013, about à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬12 billion in EU funding are available to support partners reforms, an increase of 32% in real terms as compared to 2000-2006 Financial Framework. Until 31 December 2006, EU assistance to the countries of the ENP and to Russia was provided under various geographical programmes including TACIS (for eastern neighbours and Russia) and MEDA (for southern Mediterranean neighbours), as well as thematic programmes such as European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).  [20]   Additionally, new forms of technical assistance have been extended to ENP partners. A large number of twinning and Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) arrangements, is in place with countries across the neighbourhood.  [21]  Neighbourhood countries joined also the EUs programmes and agencies like the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme.  [22]   Furthermore, it must be stated that, to the east the reforming government of Moldova is being rewarded with generous aid. In the meantime, the EU has frozen assets and restricted visas for Belaruss leaders after they rigged elections and suppressed protests.  [23]  A border monitoring mission was also in place along the Moldovan-Ukraine border to help address the frozen conflict in Transnistria while an agreement on easier visa procedures for Ukrainian citizens and others was in the works.  [24]   In May 2011 the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission suggested a new policy response to a changing EU neighbourhood based on more for more, less for less, a mutual accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law and involving a much higher level of differentiation.  [25]  New policys items are money, market access, and mobility. This approach has been authorized as well by the European Parliament and the European Council.  [26]   The Economist justified the new policy as follows: Policies should be better tailored for each neighbour. Europe cannot change geography, so it will have to deal with countries on its rim, democratic or autocratic. But in its circle of neighbours, it must always demonstrate that its best friends are the democrats.  [27]  Along this line, the EU responded to the Arab Spring and sent an obvious message of unity and support to the people of the southern Mediterranean. Moreover, it responded to EU eastern neighbours efforts towards closer political association and deeper economic integration.  [28]   The evaluation of the ENP Undoubtedly, the ENP should be seen as one of innovative efforts undertaken so far in the history of the European Communities external relations. This exposes it to a great deal of controversy in a vast diversity of opinions thereupon. Indeed, the ENP has been evaluated in most different ways, from very critical in which it is seen as an ineffective project, to statements saying that this is one of the EUs foreign policy that really works correctly. If we take into account the aforementioned results of the ENP, we realize that it does promote good relations between the enlarged EU and its neighbours. It definitely has an interest in promoting prosperity, stability and security among its neighbours by working with them to support their transition. But what about the group of people who support that the ENP is an ineffective project? Why do they strongly believe it? Those who believe that the ENP is an inadequate policy claim that the EU has to deal with three serious challenges: that of confronting the ghost of enlargement, which haunts EU relations with its neighbours, the challenge of influencing positively the serious problems distressing several of those neighbours and, that of building a neighbourhood with some degree of cohesiveness.  [29]   The unavoidable consequences of admitting some countries to full membership of the EU and excluding others produce insiders and outsiders. This dimension inside the ENP, make awkward bedfellows, especially given that east European countries are reluctantly seen as potential member states while the Mediterranean countries have not been considered appropriate for EU membership.  [30]  The hope of EU membership is a major incentive for reform amongst members. As it has already been mentioned Europes neighbourhood policy remains distinct from the process of enlargement as it offers countries everything but institutions. And this does not mean as stated earlier that neighbourhood countries have no chance of being official members of the EU. For instance, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine could be considered as candidates for EU membership at some point in the future. All have experienced a democratization process and have moved away from the direct political influence of the Russian Federation.  [31]   Nevertheless, these states represent a low priority on the enlargement agenda because of the likely impact on the EUs budget, the poor state of their economies, and the need to strengthen political reforms at home before considering accession. So, there is a large development gap between the EU and some potential members, which makes meeting membership conditions increasingly difficult. Thus, the EU is becoming more diverse.  [32]   The second challenge facing the EU is how to deal with countries of concern. Generally speaking, the challenges facing EUs neighbours often go beyond their borders. It is a fact that, the partner countries are faced with poverty, unemployment, mixed economic performance, corruption, weak governance and frozen conflicts in certain regions.  [33]   Countries of concern include Belarus and Libya, but several other neighbours like Syria are also problematic mainly because of their lack of respect for human rights and democratic principles and, because of security concerns. Even more, the list of sites of conflict in the Middle East is tragically long. In this point, someone could wonder if the ENP gives the EU more leverage or more possibilities to exercise influence in these cases than it had before.  [34]   For fostering fundamental reform in the neighbours, Action Plans should provide a real incentive for reform. The truth is that, clear benchmarks linked to clear benefits are being absent in Action Plans. There has to be a real effort so that Action Plans lend a serious concentration to the ENP and enable the focus to be on specific, measurable and time-bound objectives.  [35]   The third challenge for the EU is how to connect the dissimilar countries and regions included in the ENP. The ENP is a policy based on strengthening the bilateral links between the EU and each neighbour a policy for neighbours rather than a neighbourhood policy. And while there is an undeniable need for reform in the neighbours, there is also an undeniable need for all the neighbours to cooperate with one another. In relation to this statement, we realize that strengthening the multilateral and/or regional elements in the ENP would help to tackle not just the cross-border problems that affect the EU but also those that affect all of the neighbours.  [36]   Additionally, some analysts consider that the new policy to a changing EU neighbourhood after the emergence of the Arab Spring, based on more economic benefits for more democracy with the new policys items (money, market access, and mobility) is not bold enough to make an important difference.  [37]  Regarding money, at times of austerity there is no more for foreign-policy aims while concerning markets, many north African countries already enjoy free trade in industrial goods, and the southern Europeans want to restrict some agricultural products. As for mobility, with anti-immigrant parties gaining ground, few governments are ready to open up to north Africans.  [38]   There is little doubt that the Arab awakening was a priority for European foreign policy in 2011. Europe used a collection of instruments, including active diplomacy, special envoys, sanctions and military action. However, its technocratic response fell dramatically short of Marshall Plan for which some initially called.  [39]  Plus, the Arab Spring has shed light on the close personal and business ties between governing elites in EU member states and their Mediterranean counterparts. For example, Frances Foreign Minister Michà ¨le Alliot-Marie was forced to resign due to public outrage over her links to the ousted Ben Ali regime in Tunisia.  [40]  In 2008, the EU tried to negotiate an association agreement with Libya and earmarked à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬60mln in ENPI funds to the country over the 2011-2013 period.  [41]   To sum up, in the south the promotion of democracy and the rule of law has been an illusion. Arab neighbours have no the ambition of returning back to Europe while eastern neighbours, know that the EU is not ready to expand beyond the Balkans. Without the lure of membership, the EU struggles to find effective foreign-policy. Conclusions The ENP is a useful policy promoting stability, prosperity, welfare and security in the post 2004 era between the EU and its neighbours. But is the ENP sufficient to deal with the aforesaid challenges? This challenge is undoubtedly enormous and requires more ambitious policy response. Not only should the ghost of enlargement be vanished but also the serious problems distressing several of the neighbours. Furthermore, the EU should try hard through the ENP to build a neighbourhood with some degree of cohesiveness. As we all know, on 12 October 2012 the Nobel Prize Committee decided to award the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union for over six decades contribution to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. Although the EU is at present undergoing serious economic difficulties and considerable social unrest the award served as a reminder that the EU had largely brought peace to a continent which tore itself apart in two world wars in which tens of millions died. According to this, the EU should focus on what it sees as the EUs most important result: the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights. No one would disagree that one way for the EU to enforce its struggles for achieving the aforementioned goals, is through the ENP. It is an ambitious policy, which has the potential to make an enormous difference to the prosperity and stability of both the EU and its neighbours. So, the EU has to strengthen the ENP in order to provide concrete and credible incentives for reform. Hence, a strong ENP has to be set out. The vision contained in the ENP the real and mutual relation of EU to its nearest friends and vice versa should be a reality for the stability and wealth of both.