Federica Mogherini and two others face charges over a training contract for junior diplomats, with the probe focusing on procurement fraud
BRUSSELS: Former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has been charged alongside two others in a fraud and corruption investigation.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said the accusations concern procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy.
Mogherini, who was the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs from 2014 to 2019, was arrested on Tuesday following raids.
The 52-year-old Italian was detained with the deputy rector of the College of Europe and senior EU official Stefano Sannino.
All three were questioned by Belgian police and formally notified of the accusations before being released overnight.
The EPPO is investigating fraud suspicions related to an EU-funded training scheme for junior diplomats.
The probe focuses on whether a tender process for the European Union Diplomatic Academy was skewed to favour the College of Europe.
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.
In a statement, Mogherini insisted the College has “always applied and will continue to apply the highest standards of integrity and fairness”.
Sannino announced he was stepping back from his role heading the EU’s Mediterranean directorate and would retire this month.
“I am confident in the work of the magistrates and confident that everything will be clarified,” he wrote.
Tuesday’s searches targeted the College of Europe campus in Bruges, the EEAS premises in Brussels and suspects’ homes.
Current EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said the allegations were “deeply shocking, but should in no way tarnish the good work that the vast majority of you are doing every day”.
The College of Europe has vowed to fully cooperate with the investigation.
The EPPO is responsible for investigating crimes against the EU’s financial interests.
The probe is also supported by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). – AFP
