Introduction: Trans-Europe: Interlocking and clashing relations across Europe, Asia, and the middle east

This chapter provides an overview of a vast space labelled Trans-Europe-spanning beyond Europe, over to Russia, parts of North Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia. The concept of Trans-Europe allows capturing a number of nodes, regional pivots, as well as numerous interconnections, differences, and gaps. The authors present the challenge of this book: to explore how different regions around Europe are structured, while looking at intersecting local interests, institutions, identities, historical roots, and, especially, regional powers. In this multifaceted space, the EU is just one of many actors willing to shape and influence its neighbourhood.