ABSTRACT
Any debate on Europe usually seeks a previous consensual definition of the meaning of the term Europe, which implies not only facts (what is it?), but normative considerations (what should it be?), as well as a longing for the future. In this tension between descriptive facts and ideal statements, and in the context of the process of European integration, the current intellectual and academic debate on “Europe” has greatly intensified following the proliferation of specialised scientific journals, countless international conferences, and the wide range of books and publications such as the present one.
