EU Diplomacy Under Scrutiny: Arrests in Fraud Investigation
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Belgian police have arrested three individuals, including Federica Mogherini, the former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, amid a fraud investigation linked to EU-funded training for junior diplomats.
The arrests occurred as part of an extensive probe led by the European Public Prosecutors Office, which raided the headquarters of the European External Action Service in Brussels and the College of Europe in Bruges.
Mogherini, who has served as the rector of the College of Europe since 2020, is accused alongside two others from diplomatic circles of potential procurement fraud, corruption, and conflicts of interest.
According to Belgian media reports, one of the other detained individuals is Stefano Sannino, who was the Secretary General of the European External Action Service from 2021 to 2024 and currently holds a position as a Director General in the European Commission.
The investigation centers on whether the College of Europe was given advance knowledge of a tender for a training program for young diplomats, which could indicate a breach of fair competition and possible sharing of confidential information during the bidding process.
The European Public Prosecutors Office noted it had strong suspicions of wrongdoing and stated that the immunity of the suspects was lifted at its request. Mogherini's leadership from 2014 to 2019 as the EU's top diplomat has drawn scrutiny, especially given her controversial appointment to the College of Europe, where alumni have expressed concerns regarding her qualifications.
The College of Europe has been a significant institution for training EU officials since its establishment in 1949. This investigation marks a pivotal moment for the EPPO, which was created in 2021 to tackle cross-border fraud involving EU funds.
An EU diplomat expressed satisfaction with the EPPO's willingness to pursue high-profile figures, emphasizing the importance of accountability in maintaining public trust in EU institutions. The EPPO has not disclosed further details to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, but the arrests signal a serious commitment to addressing corruption within the EU framework.