The EELT's View of Circumstellar Environments

Considering the fantastic perspective offered by the upcoming generation of instruments of the EELT, a new observing domain will be opened for the exploration of the circumstellar environment. After placing the E-ELT in the context of current and future instrumentation and space missions, I will first briefly summarize the main properties and expected performances of the six currently known E-ELT instruments. I will then highlight the most interesting science cases from the disk-star interactions processes, the proto-planetary and debris disk characterization, the detection and characterization of exoplanets and their atmosphere to the rich environment of evolved stars. I will particularly insist on the unique observing constraints that will be obtained with the E-ELT.