EU-Azerbaijan relations: 'There are real difficulties,' admits EU Council President Charles Michel

The war in Ukraine continues to shake the European Union and neighbouring countries seeking to join the European project. Sources of tension are multiplying, as we've recently seen in the Caucasus. Faced with these challenges, Member States are looking for diplomatic, political and business solutions. 

To discuss these threats and challenges, Euronews spoke with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in The Global Conversation. 

Grégoire Lory, Euronews:

"New military action has taken place close to the European Union. Azerbaijan launched a lightning military offensive on Nagorno-Karabakh. What is the priority today?"

Charles Michel, President of the European Council:

"The question is a shocking one because there was a mediation process underway and the use of violence must always be deplored. And what's important now is to be very active on the humanitarian front. And we are very committed to supporting Armenia, which is hosting a very large number of refugees who have left the region where they used to live, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On the other hand, we must remain politically and diplomatically committed to ensuring that there is a clear reaffirmation of respect for Armenia's territorial integrity."

Grégoire Lory, Euronews:

"You've been involved in this mediation over the last few months. Was the attack a result of a failure of European diplomacy?"

Charles Michel, President of the European Council:

"I think that when you're involved in diplomacy and mediation, you know that it's not an exact science. And so I think that this mediation, which is being conducted in parallel with others, notably with the United States, has enabled progress to be made, exchanges of prisoners for example, progress