Following the successful EGU TS 5.1 Session hold in 2010, we propose that this 2011 EGU Session includes general presentations on continental rifting. We will focus our interest on contributions addressing the influence, evolution and interaction of various rifting processes such as deformation modes, sedimentary processes, serpentinisation, magmatism, and lithospheric thermal characteristics. Moreover, we believe that one of the keys in progressing future research on rifted margins is to combine studies from various sites (onshore and offshore as well as mature and young rifts/margins) and methods (modeling, observations). That's why contributions from field studies, data analyses and models are welcome.