Last updated: May 29, 2026
Charles Michel served as President of the European Council from 2019 to 2024 and was the principal architect of the Brussels mediation format for Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations. He personally hosted multiple rounds of talks between Pashinyan and Aliyev in Brussels, establishing the EU as a third mediation track alongside the Russian and US formats. The Brussels process produced several joint statements and a framework for future negotiations, though a comprehensive peace treaty remained elusive throughout his tenure.
Michel’s engagement with the South Caucasus reflected a broader EU strategic interest in projecting influence into a region that had been predominantly within Russia’s orbit. His willingness to engage directly with both Pashinyan and Aliyev gave the Brussels format a visibility that prior EU diplomatic efforts in the region had lacked. Critics noted, however, that the format lacked enforcement mechanisms and that Michel’s approach sometimes prioritized the appearance of process over concrete outcomes.
Groong covered the Brussels rounds of negotiations extensively, tracking the joint statements, the gaps between public positions and private commitments, and the role Michel played in shaping the EU’s South Caucasus policy. Episodes in this category address the substance of what was agreed or not agreed in Brussels, the relative weight of the EU format versus the Russian and US tracks, and what the Brussels process revealed about EU leverage in the region.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Charles Michel.
Episode 522 | Recorded: March 16, 2026
Episode 522 | Recorded: March 16, 2026
Episode 301 | Recorded: January 8, 2023
Episode 301 | Recorded: January 8, 2023
Episode 283 | Recorded: October 5, 2023
Episode 283 | Recorded: October 5, 2023
Episode 281 | Recorded: October 1, 2023
Episode 281 | Recorded: October 1, 2023
Episode 277 | Recorded: Sep 3, 2023
Episode 277 | Recorded: Sep 3, 2023
Episode 273 | Recorded: August 15, 2023
Episode 273 | Recorded: August 15, 2023
Episode 271 | Recorded: July 31, 2023
Episode 271 | Recorded: July 31, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 270, July 19, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - July 19, 2023
Episode 270 | Recorded: July 19, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 270, July 19, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - July 19, 2023
Episode 270 | Recorded: July 19, 2023
Episode 269 | Recorded: July 17, 2023
Episode 269 | Recorded: July 17, 2023
Episode 260 | Recorded: June 5, 2023
Episode 260 | Recorded: June 5, 2023
Episode 256 | Recorded: May 22, 2023
Episode 256 | Recorded: May 22, 2023
Episode 255 | Recorded: May 15, 2023
Episode 255 | Recorded: May 15, 2023
Episode 252 | Recorded: May 9, 2023
Episode 252 | Recorded: May 9, 2023
Episode 244 | Recorded: April 5, 2023
Episode 244 | Recorded: April 5, 2023
Episode 238 | Recorded: March 15, 2023
Episode 238 | Recorded: March 15, 2023
Today weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
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Today weâre going to talk with Anna Abrahamian about two or three topics.
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“Pashinyanâs participation in Munich Security Conference didnât give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan
Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to
Read More“Pashinyanâs participation in Munich Security Conference didnât give anything to Armenia” - Suren Sargsyan
Today is day 72 of the total blockade of Artsakh. For 72 days, the 120K citizens of Artsakh have not had the ability to enter or exit their country. They are deprived of the ability to visit Armenia or to receive guests from Armenia. With very limited supplies, they are forced to ration food with the help of food stamps in order to
Read MoreEpisode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023
Episode 226 | Recorded: February 19, 2023
Episode 182 | Recorded: December 13, 2022
Episode 182 | Recorded: December 13, 2022
Episode 173 | Recorded: November 1, 2022
Episode 173 | Recorded: November 1, 2022
Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022
Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022
Episode 167 | Recorded: October 10, 2022
Episode 167 | Recorded: October 10, 2022
Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
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Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
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Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022
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Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html
#lavrov #armeniannews
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022
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Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html
#lavrov #armeniannews
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022
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Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
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Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022
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Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
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Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
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Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
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Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022
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Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022
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Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022
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Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022
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Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 10, 2022
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:25 Opposition Protests in Yerevan: Thousands showed up to the opposition protest on Tuesday, outlining the red lines for Pashinyan’s dealings with Aliyev, ahead of the meeting in Brussels. Opposition says this is only the beginning, but have yet to indicate what their next steps will be.
00:12:35 Buying Bread from a Man in Brussels: Pashinyan went to Brussels this week to meet with Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. Did the Armenian PM
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 10, 2022
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00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:25 Opposition Protests in Yerevan: Thousands showed up to the opposition protest on Tuesday, outlining the red lines for Pashinyan’s dealings with Aliyev, ahead of the meeting in Brussels. Opposition says this is only the beginning, but have yet to indicate what their next steps will be.
00:12:35 Buying Bread from a Man in Brussels: Pashinyan went to Brussels this week to meet with Charles Michel and Ilham Aliyev. Did the Armenian PM
Armeniaâs Regional Challenges - February 26, 2022 A Conversation with Tatev Hayrapetyan
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Armeniaâs Regional Challenges - February 26, 2022 A Conversation with Tatev Hayrapetyan
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