Corruption and fraud hang over College of Europe, Mogherini detained

Brussels – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office raids EU institutions and institution-related schools. Searches and inspections were being carried out in Belgium, at the headquarters of the College of Europe in Bruges and at the headquarters of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, which answers to the EU’s High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, as part of an investigation into alleged fraud concerning EU-funded training for junior diplomats. According to Belgian media outlets, the operation resulted in three arrests, among them the institute’s rector and former EU foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini.

The arrest was made at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), with the support of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), after approval by the investigating judge. At the center of the probe is the College of Europe for the European Union Diplomatic Academy, a nine‑month training program for 50 junior diplomats from the Member States, awarded by the European External Action Service to the College of Europe in Belgium during 2021–2022 following a tender procedure. The suspicion is that participants received useful information in advance to participate in the programme, such as the selection criteria and requirements, before the publication of the call for tenders. 

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office said that “there are strong suspicions that, during the tendering process for the programme, article 169 of the Financial Regulation related to fair competition was breached, and that confidential information related to the ongoing procurement was shared with one of the candidates participating in the tender.”

The investigation is increasingly shaping up to be “a major case,” as, before the searches in EU institutions and arrests, the EPPO requested the lifting of the immunity for several suspects, “which was granted.” In addition, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office says the facts under investigation were initially reported to OLAF. “They could constitute procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and violation of professional secrecy.”​

​For now, the European Commission remains tight‑lipped. The spokesperson’s service confirmed the searches but added nothing further. It was not specified whether any of the three people arrested are EU officials.