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.
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
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
Armenian News: Opp Politics | Lavrov | War Dividends | Caucasus Barometer | Ep #142 - Jun 12, 2022 [EP142]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 14, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Economy, Ukraine, Georgia, Iran, Artsakh, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, Human Rights | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022
Topics:
- The Opposition Activates Politics
- Russia Revises Lavrov’s Parukh Response
- War Dividends
- Caucasus Barometer Survey Takeaways
Guest:
- Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@Hrant_M
Host:
- Asbed Bedrossian - TW/@qubriq
Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html
#lavrov #armeniannews
Armenian News: Opp Politics | Lavrov | War Dividends | Caucasus Barometer | Ep #142 - Jun 12, 2022 [EP142]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 14, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Economy, Ukraine, Georgia, Iran, Artsakh, Syria, Nagorno Karabakh, NATO, Human RightsGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 12, 2022
Topics:
- The Opposition Activates Politics
- Russia Revises Lavrov’s Parukh Response
- War Dividends
- Caucasus Barometer Survey Takeaways
Guest:
- Hrant Mikaelian - TW/@Hrant_M
Host:
- Asbed Bedrossian - TW/@qubriq
Episode 142 | Recorded: Monday, June 13, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220612.html
#lavrov #armeniannews
Armenian News: Yerevan Protests Grow | Artsakh Negotiations | New MPG Poll | Ep #141 - Jun 5, 2022 [EP141]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 7, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, European Union | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:52 Yerevan Protests Continue
- 24:30 State of Negotiations on Artsakh
- 42:27 MPG Gallup Poll Results
- 44:14 Rants
Guests:
Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022
Armenian News: Yerevan Protests Grow | Artsakh Negotiations | New MPG Poll | Ep #141 - Jun 5, 2022 [EP141]
Posted on Tuesday, Jun 7, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, European UnionGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - June 5, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:52 Yerevan Protests Continue
- 24:30 State of Negotiations on Artsakh
- 42:27 MPG Gallup Poll Results
- 44:14 Rants
Guests:
Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq Episode 141 | Recorded: Monday, June 6, 2022
Armenian News: Negotiations | Opp Protests | Iran-Armenia Rels | CSTO Meet | Ep #139 - May 22, 2022 [EP139]
Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Israel, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy, European Union, NATO, Human Rights | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:05 âAgenda of Peaceâ Negotiations Continue
- 34:49 Iran-Armenia Relations
- 44:00 CSTO Leaders Meeting in Moscow
- 49:44 State of the Opposition Protests
- 59:51 Hovik’s Rant
Guests:
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenian News: Negotiations | Opp Protests | Iran-Armenia Rels | CSTO Meet | Ep #139 - May 22, 2022 [EP139]
Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Georgia, Turkey, Syria, Ukraine, Israel, Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh, Economy, European Union, NATO, Human RightsGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 22, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:05 âAgenda of Peaceâ Negotiations Continue
- 34:49 Iran-Armenia Relations
- 44:00 CSTO Leaders Meeting in Moscow
- 49:44 State of the Opposition Protests
- 59:51 Hovik’s Rant
Guests:
- Dr. Benyamin Poghosyan / TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 139 | Recorded: Monday, May 23, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220522.html #zartnirlao
Armenian News: Protests Growing | FM Mirzoyan in DC | Normalization ROUnd 3 | Ep #135 - May 8, 2022 [EP135]
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Georgia, Artsakh, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Ukraine, European Union | Series: wir
Guest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:49 Mass Protests Growing in Yerevan
- 24:31 FM Mirzoyan in Washington DC
- 38:38 Normalization Round 3
- 52:25 Rants
Guest:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html
Armenian News: Protests Growing | FM Mirzoyan in DC | Normalization ROUnd 3 | Ep #135 - May 8, 2022 [EP135]
Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Armenian Genocide, Genocide, Georgia, Artsakh, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Ukraine, European UnionGuest(s):
Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - May 8, 2022
Topics:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 00:49 Mass Protests Growing in Yerevan
- 24:31 FM Mirzoyan in Washington DC
- 38:38 Normalization Round 3
- 52:25 Rants
Guest:
- Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos
Host:
- Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
- Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq
Episode 135 | Recorded: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220508.html