If the European political space has been extensively explored, research has remained all too often focused on the institutions of the European Union and the Council of Europe rather than on the actors who make Europe.

This dictionary brings a new angle to scholarship on Europe by systematically investigating its actors: those who work within the institutions or in close contact with them; those who are the targets of European policies; those in the name of whom reforms are carried out; those who promote Europe and those who oppose it. It showcases a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach that bridges the usual separation between the European Union and the Council of Europe.

In each entry, contributors selected among the leading specialists in their fields of research present the state of the art and the most current research perspectives on European actors. Students, teachers and researchers with an interest in Europe will find this volume to be a valuable work of reference and a source of new and stimulating ideas and perspectives on Europe. More broadly, the dictionary will appeal to ‘professionals of Europe’ eager to gain insights into their working environment as well as to readers interested in understanding Europe through its actors.