Former EU Diplomat Federica Mogherini Detained in Belgium Amid Anti-Fraud Investigation
In a significant development shaking the corridors of European diplomacy, Federica Mogherini, the European Union's former top diplomat, has been detained in Belgium. The high-profile arrest is part of an expansive anti-fraud investigation focusing on an EU-funded training program for junior diplomats. This probe, spearheaded by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), has seen simultaneous raids across key European institutions.
Key Figures and Coordinated Raids
Belgian police took Mogherini into custody in Brussels on Tuesday, according to multiple Belgian media outlets including VRT, Belga, and Euractiv. Mogherini served as the EU’s foreign policy chief from 2014 to 2019 and currently presides over the prestigious College of Europe graduate school, an institution central to the diplomatic training in question.
The coordinated police action extended to the College of Europe's campus in Bruges and the Brussels offices of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU's diplomatic arm. The EPPO confirmed these searches, stating that three unnamed suspects were apprehended in connection with "suspected fraud related to EU-funded training for junior diplomats." Reports also indicate that Stefano Sannino, a senior EU official who served as EEAS secretary-general between 2021 and 2024, was among those detained. Prosecutors further disclosed that the homes of several suspects were also targeted during the operation, conducted at the EPPO's request by Belgian federal police.
Allegations: Tender Manipulation and Conflict of Interest
At the heart of the investigation is the European Union Diplomatic Academy, a nine-month training initiative designed for junior diplomats across EU member states. The program was awarded by the EEAS to the College of Europe in Belgium for the 2021-2022 period. The EPPO's inquiry specifically scrutinizes whether the tender process for this substantial program was unfairly influenced or "skewed to favour the school." Mogherini's dual role as head of both the College of Europe and the EU Diplomatic Academy has naturally drawn attention, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
The EPPO's statement explicitly noted "strong suspicions that confidential information related to the ongoing procurement was shared with one of the candidates participating in the tender." Confirming the raids, a European Commission spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, stated that the police presence at the EEAS buildings was part of "the ongoing investigation of the activities that took place before in the previous mandate."
Independent Probe and Potential Charges
Prior to these actions, the EPPO, which functions as the EU's independent public prosecution office for crimes against the bloc's financial interests, successfully requested and obtained the lifting of immunity for several implicated individuals. Should the allegations be substantiated, they could constitute serious offenses including procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and violations of professional secrecy. The investigation, which initially stemmed from accusations reported to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), is actively proceeding as authorities work to establish the full facts and ascertain if any criminal offenses have occurred. This unfolding situation underscores the EU's commitment to upholding financial integrity and accountability within its institutions.
