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 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
Guest:
Topics:
- Yerevan Mayoral Elections
- Artsakh Domestic Developments
- Developments in Geopolitics and Negotiations
Episode 277 | Recorded: Sep 3, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian - Situation in Artsakh | Yerevan Elections Heating Up | MPG Poll Outtakes | MPG Poll on Yerevan Elections [EP273]
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 16, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Genocide, Turkey, Economy, Ukraine, China, Georgia, India, Iran | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Situation in Artsakh
- Yerevan Elections Heating Up
- July MPG Survey Outtakes
- August MPG Survey Outtakes
- Baku Poll
- Thoughts on the Economy
Episode 273 | Recorded: August 15, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian - Situation in Artsakh | Yerevan Elections Heating Up | MPG Poll Outtakes | MPG Poll on Yerevan Elections [EP273]
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 16, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Artsakh Blockade, Genocide, Turkey, Economy, Ukraine, China, Georgia, India, IranGuest:
Topics:
- Situation in Artsakh
- Yerevan Elections Heating Up
- July MPG Survey Outtakes
- August MPG Survey Outtakes
- Baku Poll
- Thoughts on the Economy
Episode 273 | Recorded: August 15, 2023
Yeghia Tashjian - Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations | Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi | Situation In Artsakh | Ep 271 - July 30, 2023 [EP271]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, European Union, Ukraine, NATO, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, China, Economy | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi
- Situation in Artsakh
Episode 271 | Recorded: July 31, 2023
Yeghia Tashjian - Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations | Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi | Situation In Artsakh | Ep 271 - July 30, 2023 [EP271]
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, European Union, Ukraine, NATO, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, China, EconomyGuest:
Topics:
- Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Azerbaijani Propaganda in Shushi
- Situation in Artsakh
Episode 271 | Recorded: July 31, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 270, July 19, 2023 [EP270]
Posted on Thursday, Jul 20, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Human Rights, Russia, Turkey | Series: artsakhblockade
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 270, July 19, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - July 19, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Continuing Azeri Aggression
- Daily shootings, mortar fire
- Constant shooting at farmers in the fields
- Level of hardship
- Level of determination
- Azerbaijan claims Armenians can use road through Aghdam
- Chales Michel welcomes this!?!?!?!?
- âNational Movementâ Launched on July 14, 2023
- What is the message to the world, and goals?
- HayaQve (.am)
Episode 270 | Recorded: July 19, 2023
Artsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 270, July 19, 2023 [EP270]
Posted on Thursday, Jul 20, 2023 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Artsakh Blockade, Human Rights, Russia, TurkeyArtsakh Blockade Flash Update with Gev Iskajyan - Ep 270, July 19, 2023
Armenian News Network Groong - July 19, 2023
Guest:
Topics:
- Continuing Azeri Aggression
- Daily shootings, mortar fire
- Constant shooting at farmers in the fields
- Level of hardship
- Level of determination
- Azerbaijan claims Armenians can use road through Aghdam
- Chales Michel welcomes this!?!?!?!?
- âNational Movementâ Launched on July 14, 2023
- What is the message to the world, and goals?
- HayaQve (.am)
Episode 270 | Recorded: July 19, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian - Latest on Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations | Economic State in Armenia | September Yerevan Mayoral Elections | Estimating the War Dead | Hayaqve [.am] [EP269]
Posted on Monday, Jul 17, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Economy, Artsakh Blockade, Human Rights, Turkey, Ukraine | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Latest on Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Economic State in Armenia
- September Yerevan Mayoral Elections
- Estimating the War Dead
- Hayaqve [.am]
Episode 269 | Recorded: July 17, 2023
Hrant Mikaelian - Latest on Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations | Economic State in Armenia | September Yerevan Mayoral Elections | Estimating the War Dead | Hayaqve [.am] [EP269]
Posted on Monday, Jul 17, 2023 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Poll, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Economy, Artsakh Blockade, Human Rights, Turkey, UkraineGuest:
Topics:
- Latest on Armenian Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Economic State in Armenia
- September Yerevan Mayoral Elections
- Estimating the War Dead
- Hayaqve [.am]
Episode 269 | Recorded: July 17, 2023