About: Charles Michel
Calls for rallies threaten EU deal in Georgia
European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday (20 April) declared a political crisis in Georgia resolved, but defiant opposition groups called for new protests and an ex-president announced his return from exile to oust the ruling party.
Georgia ruling party, opposition sign EU-led pact to end crisis
Georgia's ruling party and the opposition on Monday (19 April) signed an EU-mediated agreement to end a months-long political crisis that raised concerns in the West over the Caucasus country's backsliding on democracy.
Michel silent over unofficial document mulling border changes in Western Balkans
A phantom document proposing controversial border changes across the Western Balkans caused a political storm in the region and in Brussels this week. While most EU officials had little knowledge of the elusive document, the office of European Council President Charles Michel could not deny receiving it. EURACTIV took a closer look
Slovenia suspected of seeking ‘peaceful dissolution’ of Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Slovenian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has been summoned to the country's foreign ministry to explain recent rumours about alleged plans by Ljubljana for the dissolution of the country hosting her and a redrawing of borders across the Western Balkans.
Von der Leyen, Michel seek way forward after ‘sofa-gate’ tensions
EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel held their first talks Monday (12 April) since a diplomatic gaffe in Turkey -- dubbed "sofa-gate" -- laid bare tensions between the bloc's major institutions.
Protocol scandal symbolises the state of EU-Turkey relations, EU lawmaker says
We shouldn't place "sofa-gate" into the epicentre of a plenary debate, but rather discuss how to rebuild relations with Turkey under a President who no longer has a commitment toward a European future, a leading MEP told EURACTIV.
Tweets of the Week: Sofa-gate, Northern Ireland, Eurostar
In Ankara VDL is denied a chair, Northern Ireland violence is hard to bear and Eurostar's failing and the Brits don’t care.
‘Sofa-gate’ brings more headaches for the EU
The protocol scandal that overshadowed the EU leaders’ recent visit to Turkey keeps unfolding, raising questions about Council President Charles Michel's reaction, but also about the EU's consistency in asking Ankara to adhere to the Istanbul Convention.
‘Divan-gate’: Brussels angry over von der Leyen Turkey chair snub
The European Commission hit out Wednesday (7 April) at a diplomatic snub that left its head Ursula von der Leyen without a chair as male counterparts sat down at a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
EU chiefs press Erdogan on rights while stressing better ties
The European Union's top two officials on Tuesday (6 April) expressed deep worries about human rights in Turkey while voicing hope for stronger ties in their first meeting in a year with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Charles Michel vows support to Libya’s interim government
European Council President Charles Michel offered support to Libya Sunday (4 April) on a visit to Tripoli, as the North African nation seeks to end a decade of chaos following a NATO-backed 2011 revolt.
New international treaty will help prepare for future pandemics, EU’s Michel says
The international pandemic treaty currently in the making should serve as a framework for future preparedness against global health threats, said European Council president Charles Michel, who originally came up with the idea.
EU-mediated Georgia crisis talks fail on second try
The second round of European Union-mediated talks between Georgia's ruling party and the opposition failed Wednesday (31 March) to resolve a political impasse sparked by elections last year, an EU mediator said.
Leaders of 23 countries back EU’s pandemic treaty idea
Leaders of 23 countries and the World Health Organisation on Tuesday (30 March) backed an idea to create an international treaty that would help the world deal with future health emergencies like the coronavirus pandemic now ravaging the globe.
EU leaders cautiously back vaccine export controls, claim to be world’s main exporter
EU leaders have unanimously endorsed the European Commission's mechanism to authorise the export of vaccine doses outside Europe before shipment, taking credit for being the main world vaccine exporters so far.
EU dangles carrots for Turkey if ‘de-escalation sustained’
European Union leaders are ready to boost cooperation with Turkey if a "current de-escalation is sustained", they said in a video summit on Thursday (25 March) following a spike in tensions.
Five years on, former PM remembers bombings that changed Belgium
It has been five years since Islamist bombers slaughtered 32 people in the Belgian capital Brussels, in an attack then prime minister Charles Michel says changed the country forever.
EU ‘deeply concerned’ over crackdown on pro-Kurdish party, Turkey rebuffs criticism
Turkey on Thursday (18 March) told foreign countries to keep out of its domestic affairs after Western powers uniformly condemned its bid to shut down the main pro-Kurdish party.
EU’s Michel wants to involve regions more closely in recovery plans
European Council President Charles Michel wants to see regions more involved in the current European processes, particularly in the drafting of national recovery plans and the Conference on the Future of Europe. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Unthinkable? EU considers getting a vaccine boost from Russia’s Sputnik
Publicly, the European Union has dismissed Russia’s global coronavirus vaccine supply campaign as a propaganda stunt by an undesirable regime. But behind the scenes, the bloc is turning to Moscow’s Sputnik V shot, EU diplomatic and official sources told Reuters.
Georgian Dream MPs hope political turmoil can be resolved
EURACTIV spoke to two MPs from the ruling Georgian Dream ahead of an important deadline – 15 March, when the EU-Georgia Association Council will be held, and when a solution to the political crisis in the country is expected.
MEPs ask Charles Michel to mediate in Georgia
A group of MEPs on Tuesday (23 February) have asked European Council President Charles Michel to use his upcoming visit to Georgia to mediate between the government and the opposition, in a bid to appease the “rapidly deteriorating political situation” in the country.
US offers to meet Iran, reverses Trump steps in push to save nuclear deal
US President Joe Biden's administration offered talks with Iran led by European allies and reversed two largely symbolic steps against Tehran imposed by Donald Trump, as it sought to salvage a nuclear deal on the brink of collapse.