Charles Michel

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.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Charles Michel.

Arthur Martirosyan - Iran War, Effect on Armenia, June Parliamentary | Ep 522, Mar 15, 2026 [EP522]

Posted on Monday, Mar 16, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Ukraine, Iran, Azerbaijan, Israel, USA, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Georgia, Middle East | Series: wir, video

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran War
  • Effect on Armenia
  • June Parliamentary Elections

Episode 522 | Recorded: March 16, 2026

Arthur Martirosyan - Iran War, Effect on Armenia, June Parliamentary | Ep 522, Mar 15, 2026 [EP522]

Posted on Monday, Mar 16, 2026 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Armenian Church, Ukraine, Iran, Azerbaijan, Israel, USA, Turkey, Russia, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Georgia, Middle East

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran War
  • Effect on Armenia
  • June Parliamentary Elections

Episode 522 | Recorded: March 16, 2026

Tevan Poghosyan - Crossroads of Peace | Iran | Russia | French Weapons | Artsakh | Ep 301 - January 7, 2023 [EP301]

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 9, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, European Union, Russia, Iran, Turkey, China, Middle East, NATO, Ukraine | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Public TV Cancels Catholicos New Year’s Address
  • Governor Hunting Season
  • “Zangezur corridor” redux; “Peace treaty”
  • Thoughts from the Participants
    • Podcasts, labels, and language of division

Episode 301 | Recorded: January 8, 2023

Tevan Poghosyan - Crossroads of Peace | Iran | Russia | French Weapons | Artsakh | Ep 301 - January 7, 2023 [EP301]

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 9, 2024 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Armenian Church, European Union, Russia, Iran, Turkey, China, Middle East, NATO, Ukraine

Guest:

Topics:

  • Public TV Cancels Catholicos New Year’s Address
  • Governor Hunting Season
  • “Zangezur corridor” redux; “Peace treaty”
  • Thoughts from the Participants
    • Podcasts, labels, and language of division

Episode 301 | Recorded: January 8, 2023

Benyamin Poghosyan - Is the Armenian Azerbaijani Conflict Over? | Ep 283, Oct 5, 2023 [EP283]

Posted on Thursday, Oct 5, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, USA, Turkey, Ukraine, European Union, Russia, Iran, Geopolitics, Georgia, NATO, Genocide, India | Series: cog

Guest:

Topics:

  • Outstanding Causes of the Conflict
  • Why did Aliyev Bail out of Granada?
  • Could Azerbaijan Attack Armenia?
  • How Might Events Unfold?

Episode 283 | Recorded: October 5, 2023

Benyamin Poghosyan - Is the Armenian Azerbaijani Conflict Over? | Ep 283, Oct 5, 2023 [EP283]

Posted on Thursday, Oct 5, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, USA, Turkey, Ukraine, European Union, Russia, Iran, Geopolitics, Georgia, NATO, Genocide, India

Guest:

Topics:

  • Outstanding Causes of the Conflict
  • Why did Aliyev Bail out of Granada?
  • Could Azerbaijan Attack Armenia?
  • How Might Events Unfold?

Episode 283 | Recorded: October 5, 2023

Arthur G Martirosyan - Artsakh Surrenders, Armenia Watches | What 'Peace Treaty' in Granada? | Arrested Artsakh Leaders Held Hostage [EP281]

Posted on Monday, Oct 2, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Genocide, USA, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, China, Human Rights, Middle East, Ukraine | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Artsakh Surrenders, Armenia Watches
  • What “Peace Treaty” in Granada?
  • Arrested Artsakh Leaders Held Hostage

Episode 281 | Recorded: October 1, 2023

Arthur G Martirosyan - Artsakh Surrenders, Armenia Watches | What 'Peace Treaty' in Granada? | Arrested Artsakh Leaders Held Hostage [EP281]

Posted on Monday, Oct 2, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Genocide, USA, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, China, Human Rights, Middle East, Ukraine

Guest:

Topics:

  • Artsakh Surrenders, Armenia Watches
  • What “Peace Treaty” in Granada?
  • Arrested Artsakh Leaders Held Hostage

Episode 281 | Recorded: October 1, 2023

Arthur Khachikyan - Yerevan Elections | Artsakh Domestic Developments | Negotiations and Geopolitics | Ep 277 - Sep 3, 2023 [EP277]

Posted on Sunday, Sep 3, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Poll, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, Russia, Turkey, Israel, Iran, Genocide, India, Ukraine, Human Rights, China, Geopolitics, Lebanon, NATO | Series: wir

Guest:

Topics:

  • Yerevan Mayoral Elections
  • Artsakh Domestic Developments
  • Developments in Geopolitics and Negotiations

Episode 277 | Recorded: Sep 3, 2023