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.
Lachin Blocked | Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations | Military Exercises | Syunik [EP182]
Posted on Sunday, Dec 11, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, China, Geopolitics, Economy, Israel, Middle East, NATO, Syria, India | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Lachin Corridor Blockade
- Continuing Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Turkish-Azerbaijani Military Exercises
- Travel Impressions from the region
Episode 182 | Recorded: December 13, 2022
Lachin Blocked | Armenia-Azerbaijan Negotiations | Military Exercises | Syunik [EP182]
Posted on Sunday, Dec 11, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Politics, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh, Turkey, Russia, Iran, Artsakh Blockade, European Union, Ukraine, China, Geopolitics, Economy, Israel, Middle East, NATO, Syria, IndiaGuest:
Topics:
- Lachin Corridor Blockade
- Continuing Armenian-Azerbaijani Negotiations
- Turkish-Azerbaijani Military Exercises
- Travel Impressions from the region
Episode 182 | Recorded: December 13, 2022
Rally in Stepanakert | Sullivan Plan | CSTO Security Council Convened | Trilateral in Sochi | Pashinyan in Tehran [EP173]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, USA, European Union, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, Syria, Genocide, China, Human Rights, Ukraine | Series: cog
Guest:
Topics:
- Massive Stepanakert Rally
- The Sullivan Plan
- CSTO Security Council Convened
- Trilateral Summit in Sochi
- From Sochi to Tehran
Episode 173 | Recorded: November 1, 2022
Rally in Stepanakert | Sullivan Plan | CSTO Security Council Convened | Trilateral in Sochi | Pashinyan in Tehran [EP173]
Posted on Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022 | Category: Politics, Artsakh, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, USA, European Union, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, Syria, Genocide, China, Human Rights, UkraineGuest:
Topics:
- Massive Stepanakert Rally
- The Sullivan Plan
- CSTO Security Council Convened
- Trilateral Summit in Sochi
- From Sochi to Tehran
Episode 173 | Recorded: November 1, 2022
Armenia-Azerbaijan “Peace Negotiations” Tactics and Goals | October 14, 2022 [EP168]
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, European Union, Israel | Series: cog
Guest:
Topics:
- Goals and Tactics of Azerbaijan’s Negotiations
- How did “Corridors” Become a Thing?
- Russia’s Contributions to the process
- Options and Scenarios Going Forwards
Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022
Armenia-Azerbaijan “Peace Negotiations” Tactics and Goals | October 14, 2022 [EP168]
Posted on Friday, Oct 14, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Politics, Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, European Union, IsraelGuest:
Topics:
- Goals and Tactics of Azerbaijan’s Negotiations
- How did “Corridors” Become a Thing?
- Russia’s Contributions to the process
- Options and Scenarios Going Forwards
Episode 168 | Recorded: Friday, October 14, 2022
Meetings in Prague | Pashinyan Consolidating Power | Personal Rants | Ep 167 - Oct 9, 2022 [EP167]
Posted on Tuesday, Oct 11, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Genocide, India, Armenian Genocide, Georgia, Iran, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO | Series: wir
Guest:
Topics:
- Meetings in Prague
- Pashinyan Consolidating Power
- Personal Rants
Episode 167 | Recorded: October 10, 2022
Meetings in Prague | Pashinyan Consolidating Power | Personal Rants | Ep 167 - Oct 9, 2022 [EP167]
Posted on Tuesday, Oct 11, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Genocide, India, Armenian Genocide, Georgia, Iran, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATOGuest:
Topics:
- Meetings in Prague
- Pashinyan Consolidating Power
- Personal Rants
Episode 167 | Recorded: October 10, 2022
Artsakh Independence | Diplomacy | Normalization with Turkey | Gorbachev | Ep 162 - Sep 4, 2022 [EP162]
Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Politics, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Economy, Geopolitics, Israel, European Union, NATO, Georgia, Human Rights, Middle East | Series: wir
Armenian News Network - Groong Week in Review - Sep 4, 2022
Topics:
- September 2: Artsakh Independence Day
- September 2 is a public holiday commemorating the day 31 years ago when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic declared independence from the USSR. Before 2020, this would be a festive holiday. This year, there were protests in both Yerevan and Stepanakert as well as visits to the gravesites of fallen heroes.
- Developments in Geopolitics
- There were two major meetings this week between Armenia and Azerbaijan. On August 30, the deputy PMs met in Moscow, then on August 31, Pashinyan and Aliyev met