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.

Armenian News: April 24 Never Forget | Brussels Meet | Pashinyan in Moscow | Ep #133 - Apr 24, 2022 [EP133]

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 26, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Genocide, Armenian Genocide, Ukraine, Artsakh, Georgia, China, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO, Lebanon | Series: wir

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:00:53 April 24, Never Forget!
  • 00:15:54 Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels
  • 00:41:01 Pashinyan in Moscow
  • 01:01:36 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html

Armenian News: April 24 Never Forget | Brussels Meet | Pashinyan in Moscow | Ep #133 - Apr 24, 2022 [EP133]

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 26, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Genocide, Armenian Genocide, Ukraine, Artsakh, Georgia, China, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, NATO, Lebanon

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 24, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Intro
  • 00:00:53 April 24, Never Forget!
  • 00:15:54 Aliyev and Pashinyan in Brussels
  • 00:41:01 Pashinyan in Moscow
  • 01:01:36 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan TW/@Benyamin_Poghos

Host:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 133 | Recorded: Monday, April 25, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220424.html

Armenian News: Opposition | Brussels | Alison | Economy | Poll | Artsakh | Ep #132 - Apr 10, 2022 [EP132]

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 12, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine, Economy, India, Georgia, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Lebanon, Middle East, NATO, Syria, European Union | Series: wir

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 10, 2022

Topics:

  • 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

 Read More

Armenian News: Opposition | Brussels | Alison | Economy | Poll | Artsakh | Ep #132 - Apr 10, 2022 [EP132]

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 12, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, Ukraine, Economy, India, Georgia, Geopolitics, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, Lebanon, Middle East, NATO, Syria, European Union

Guest(s):

Armenian News Network/Groong Week in Review - April 10, 2022

Topics:

  • 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

 Read More

Armenia’s Regional Challenges with Tatev Hayrapetyan | Ep #124 - Feb 26, 2022 [EP124]

Posted on Saturday, Feb 26, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Ukraine, Artsakh, China, India, Nagorno Karabakh | Series: cog

Armenia’s Regional Challenges - February 26, 2022 A Conversation with Tatev Hayrapetyan

Topics:

  • Tatev’s Background and Entrance into Politics
  • Armenia Going in the Wrong Direction?
  • Aliyev and his Regime after the 44-Day War
  • The Shushi and Moscow Agreements
  • Armenia’s Foreign Affairs Establishment

Guest:

  • Tatev Hayrapetyan is an expert in Azerbaijani studies and holds a PhD in History. She was an MP at the 7th convocation of Armenia’s National Assembly, a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Armenian Delegation at the PACE. She is mainly focused on domestic
 Read More

Armenia’s Regional Challenges with Tatev Hayrapetyan | Ep #124 - Feb 26, 2022 [EP124]

Posted on Saturday, Feb 26, 2022 | Category: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Ukraine, Artsakh, China, India, Nagorno Karabakh

Armenia’s Regional Challenges - February 26, 2022 A Conversation with Tatev Hayrapetyan

Topics:

  • Tatev’s Background and Entrance into Politics
  • Armenia Going in the Wrong Direction?
  • Aliyev and his Regime after the 44-Day War
  • The Shushi and Moscow Agreements
  • Armenia’s Foreign Affairs Establishment

Guest:

  • Tatev Hayrapetyan is an expert in Azerbaijani studies and holds a PhD in History. She was an MP at the 7th convocation of Armenia’s National Assembly, a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Armenian Delegation at the PACE. She is mainly focused on domestic
 Read More

POWs | War Commission | Degrading Democracy | Lukashenko | MPG poll | Ep #119 - Feb 13, 2022 [EP119]

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, China, Ukraine, Georgia, Israel, USA, Economy, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Geopolitics, Lebanon, NATO, Syria | Series: wir

ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction
  • 00:02:43 8 More POWs Released, But What At What Cost?
  • 00:20:40 Parliamentary Commission on the 44-Day War Established
  • 00:33:42 The Degrading Norms of Democracy in Armenia
  • 00:46:42 Who Needs Armenia?
  • 01:06:32 Latest MPG Poll Results in Yerevan
  • 01:18:51 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html

POWs | War Commission | Degrading Democracy | Lukashenko | MPG poll | Ep #119 - Feb 13, 2022 [EP119]

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2022 | Category: Artsakh, Armenia, Politics, Poll, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, China, Ukraine, Georgia, Israel, USA, Economy, Human Rights, Nagorno Karabakh, European Union, Geopolitics, Lebanon, NATO, Syria

ANN/Groong Week in Review - February 13, 2022

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 Introduction
  • 00:02:43 8 More POWs Released, But What At What Cost?
  • 00:20:40 Parliamentary Commission on the 44-Day War Established
  • 00:33:42 The Degrading Norms of Democracy in Armenia
  • 00:46:42 Who Needs Armenia?
  • 01:06:32 Latest MPG Poll Results in Yerevan
  • 01:18:51 Rants

Guest:

  • Benyamin Poghosyan

Guest(s):

Hosts:

  • Hovik Manucharyan TW/@HovikYerevan
  • Asbed Bedrossian TW/@qubriq

Episode 119 | Recorded: Sunday, February 14, 2022 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20220213.html

Normalization | Brussels Sprouts | NSC Chair in DC | Armenia Project Tour | Ep. 108 - Dec 19, 2021 [EP108]

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 21, 2021 | Category: Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh Blockade, Armenian Genocide, European Union, Genocide, Georgia, Iran, Ukraine, NATO, Economy, Middle East | Series: wir

ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 19, 2021

Topics:

  • Turkish-Armenian normalization
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Armen Grigoryan in Washington DC
  • The Armenian Project - US Tour
  • Analyst Rants

Guest:

Episode 108 | Recorded: December 20, 2021