Belgian authorities arrested three individuals, including Federica Mogherini, current rector of the College of Europe and former head of the European External Action Service (EEAS), following coordinated raids on EU diplomatic offices in Brussels and the College of Europe in Bruges. This operation, initiated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), is part of an investigation into suspected fraud related to EU-funded training programs for junior diplomats.
The focus of the investigation is the awarding of a tender for the 2021–2022 EU Diplomatic Academy training program. The EPPO has indicated “strong suspicions” of compromised tendering processes, including procurement fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and breaches of professional secrecy. Authorities are particularly looking into the potential improper sharing of confidential information with a candidate during procurement.
The raids targeted multiple locations, including College of Europe buildings and the EEAS headquarters, as well as the suspects’ residences. The EPPO has requested the lifting of immunity for several individuals linked to the case to advance the inquiry.
The European Commission acknowledged the raids but withheld further comment due to the ongoing investigation, while both the federal police and prosecutor’s office have chosen not to provide additional details. This situation has generated significant concern within EU institutions, emphasizing the critical need for transparency and integrity in the management of EU funds. The investigation remains active as authorities work to clarify the circumstances and ascertain if any criminal offenses have occurred.
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