Russians dont really see themselves that way, they call it northern Eurasia. Europe is now almost synonymous with the EU and it interest sphere.

May I ask you why do you think you can represent Russians' opinion here? I am certanly Russian and feel the way you discribe.

Quite so. Huge gas pipes are connecting it to the EU.

There are also gas pipelines connecting Algeria to the EU. Is Algeria in Europe?

Certainly. It was a part of the Roman Empire, state language is French, and most money flows from France. Its apity, that geographically its Africa. I propose to rename Northern Africa the Special European Economical Interest Area.

Israel, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan (and now even Australia!) participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. So I guess the concept of Europe is flexible enough to allow for that.

"The Greater European Co-Prosperity Sphere".

North Africa is quite distinct from the rest of Africa and the middle east either way you slice it.