Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday that former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and two others have been formally charged with procurement fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and breaches of professional secrecy.
On Tuesday, three individuals were detained in connection with an EU fraud investigation. They have since been released, and the investigation continues, with EPPO stating they are not considered a flight risk.
Who are the other officials implicated alongside Federica Mogherini?
EPPO identified the other two suspects as a senior staff member at the College of Europe in Bruges and a high-ranking official from the European Commission. Reuters reported, citing three sources, that one of the detainees was senior EU diplomat Stefano Sannino.
“All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Belgian courts of law,”
EPPO also said.
How does EPPO justify the charges brought against Mogherini?
EPPO is investigating suspected fraud concerning EU-funded training for junior diplomats. The prosecutor’s office stated that its investigation focused on the creation of the European Union Diplomatic Academy, a nine-month training program for junior diplomats.
This program was awarded to the College of Europe in 2021-2022 by the EU diplomatic service after a tender process. Their arrests occurred after raids on the EU diplomatic mission in Brussels, the College of Europe in Bruges—an elite university that trains many EU officials—and the suspects’ residences.
Federica Mogherini served as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, while also heading the European External Action Service (EEAS), from November 2014 to November 2019.
In September 2020, she became Rector of the College of Europe, a postgraduate institution focused on European studies with campuses in Bruges, Natolin, and Tirana.
How does this case compare to earlier EU corruption scandals?
Eva Kaili, former European Parliament Vice-President, was charged in December 2022 with corruption, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organisation over alleged Qatari bribes to influence EU policy, notably on labour rights, ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
She was released to house arrest in April 2023 with an electronic bracelet and remains under judicial control while denying all charges, as the case is ongoing into 2025.
The 2025 Huawei bribery investigation focused on lower-level employees and charged parliamentary aides and possibly up to 15 MEPs with accepting gifts and favours to influence China-related policy, but no charges were brought against top executives, such as vice presidents.
