Federica Mogherini, the EU’s former top diplomat, faces fraud and corruption charges over a training contract for the European Diplomatic Academy
BRUSSELS: The European Union’s former foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has been charged in a fraud and corruption investigation.
Prosecutors said the probe centres on contracts to train future European diplomats.
Mogherini, who served as High Representative for Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2019, was arrested on Tuesday.
Raids were conducted at the elite College of Europe graduate school, which she now leads, and at the EU’s diplomatic service premises.
The 52-year-old Italian was detained alongside the school’s deputy rector and a senior EU official, Stefano Sannino.
All three were questioned by Belgian police and formally notified of the accusations against them.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office stated the charges include procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and violation of professional secrecy.
The individuals were released overnight as they are not considered a flight risk.
The investigation focuses on suspicions of fraud in an EU-funded training scheme for junior diplomats.
The programme, known as the European Union Diplomatic Academy, was awarded to the College of Europe in 2021-2022.
Prosecutors are examining whether the tender process was manipulated to favour the school.
Mogherini has headed the College of Europe since 2020 and also leads the EU Diplomatic Academy.
The contract in question was worth approximately EUR 650,000.
Searches targeted the College of Europe campus in Bruges, the EEAS offices in Brussels, and suspects’ homes.
The European Commission confirmed the raids, noting the probe concerns activities from a previous mandate.
The current EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, assumed the role a year ago.
The College of Europe pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
It emphasised its commitment to the highest standards of integrity and compliance.
The EPPO is the EU’s independent prosecution office for crimes against the bloc’s financial interests.
The case is being led by a judge in Western Belgium with support from the European Anti-Fraud Office. – AFP
