  We study general aspects of NS5-brane instantons in relation to the
stabilization of the volume modulus in Calabi-Yau compactifications of type II
strings with fluxes, and their orientifold versions. These instantons correct
the Kahler potential and generically yield significant contributions to the
scalar potential at intermediate values of string coupling constant and volume.
Under suitable conditions they yield uplifting terms that allow for
meta--stable de Sitter vacua.
