Former EU top diplomat Mogherini implicated in fraud probe

Federica Mogherini, the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, has been implicated in a fraud investigation conducted by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) concerning potential misuse of EU funds.

According to the EPPO, authorities carried out searches on Tuesday at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, where Mogherini serves as rector, as well as at the European External Action Service (EEAS) headquarters in Brussels, which she led for five years.

The probe centers on EU-funded training programs for junior diplomats. Alongside Mogherini, a senior official from the College of Europe and a high-ranking European Commission official were briefly detained.

The EPPO stated that the trio was formally informed of the charges, which include allegations of procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and breach of professional secrecy. All three were later released, as they were not considered a flight risk, and searches were also conducted at their residences. Belgian law allows individuals to be detained and released without formal charges while still being considered suspects.

The investigation specifically targets a tender awarded by the EEAS to the College of Europe in 2021-2022, with authorities noting "strong suspicions" of favoritism in connection with a nine-month training program for junior diplomats. The EPPO, responsible for probing crimes against the EUs financial interests, has not publicly disclosed the names of those involved but confirmed that the immunity of several suspects has been lifted during the inquiry.

The College of Europe is an independent institution for aspiring EU civil servants, closely linked to the EU and partially funded by it.

Author: Harper Simmons