Fraud probe accuses ex-EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini of corruption

LUXEMBOURG Federica Mogherini, who formerly directed the European Unions foreign affairs service, is facing allegations of corruption along with two other individuals, the European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) announced Wednesday.

Belgian authorities carried out arrests on Tuesday following raids at the EU diplomatic service offices in Brussels and a college in Bruges. Mogherini, who led the EU foreign service between 2014 and 2019, currently serves as rector of the College of Europe.

According to the EPPO, Mogherini, a senior College of Europe staff member, and a high-ranking European Commission official were detained at its request. After questioning by the Belgian Federal Judicial Police, all three were formally informed of the charges, which include procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and breach of professional secrecy. They were released, as they are not deemed a flight risk.

The police also conducted searches at multiple properties, including several College of Europe buildings and the headquarters of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, which hosts the EU's central institutions.

The EPPO, an independent EU judicial body, stated that there are strong suspicions of irregularities in the tender process for a training program held from 2021 to 2022 at the EU Diplomatic Academy, designed for junior diplomats. At that time, Josep Borrell, the former European Commission Vice-President, was leading the EEAS.

Author: Noah Whitman