Federica Mogherini. Photo by Sebastian Christoph Gollnow / dpa / Scanpix / LETA.
According to the publication Meduza, Federica Mogherini has been detained in Belgium in connection with fraudulent activities related to funds allocated for the training of diplomats.
Local media, such as Le Soir and L'Echo, reported that Mogherini is under arrest, awaiting interrogation.
The investigation concerns the improper use of European Union funds from 2021 to 2022. As reported by Euractiv, the case arose after suspicions were raised against the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the College of Europe, which conducts training for future diplomats and officials. Since September 2020, Mogherini has held the position of rector of this college.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office expressed "serious suspicions" of fraud related to a tender for a nine-month training program for diplomats. The tender was organized by the EEAS and was won by the College of Europe. Investigators are trying to determine whether representatives of the college were informed in advance about the selection criteria for the tender. The prosecutor's office also mentioned an investigation into issues of corruption, conflict of interest, and breach of professional secrecy.
A central element of the investigation is the purchase by the College of Europe of a building in Bruges for 3.2 million euros, which will be used for student accommodation. This property was acquired in 2022 under financial difficulties, shortly before the EEAS announced a tender for student housing. After winning the tender, the college received funding of 654 thousand euros.
As part of the investigation, Belgian authorities conducted a series of searches. According to Euractiv, on December 2, police searched the offices of the European External Action Service in Brussels, the College of Europe, as well as several private homes. Before the operation began, the court lifted the immunity of several suspects at the request of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, but their names are not disclosed.
According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, three people have been detained in total in connection with the case, although their names have not been officially released. Local media report that among those arrested, in addition to Mogherini, is the former Secretary-General of the EEAS, Italian diplomat Stefano Sannino, who currently heads the European Commission's Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf, and is also a member of the College of Europe's management. The name of the third suspect has not yet been disclosed.
Federica Mogherini served as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy from 2014 to 2019, working in Jean-Claude Juncker's team. Previously, she was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy in Matteo Renzi's government from February to October 2014 and a member of the lower house of the Italian Parliament from 2008 to 2014.
