Former EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini Accused in EU Fraud Investigation

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has initiated an investigation into alleged misuse of European Union funds, leading to accusations of fraud against Federica Mogherini, the EU’s former foreign policy chief.

Millenium TV can confirm that searches were conducted on Tuesday at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, where Ms. Mogherini serves as head. Concurrently, the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, the department she led for five years as the bloc’s chief diplomat, was also subject to searches.

The inquiry primarily focuses on EU-funded training programs designed for junior diplomats. Alongside Ms. Mogherini, a high-ranking staff member from the College of Europe and a senior official within the European Commission were taken into custody. These individuals were formally apprised of the allegations against them, which encompass procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and violations of professional secrecy.

Following their detention, all three individuals were subsequently released, as they were not deemed a flight risk. Searches were also conducted at their respective residences. Under Belgian legal protocols, individuals can be arrested and released without formal charges while still remaining under suspicion.

The EPPO stated that its investigation centers on a tender awarded by the EEAS to the College of Europe during the 2021-2022 period. There are strong suspicions of favouritism linked to this tender, which concerned a nine-month training course specifically for junior diplomats. The EPPO, responsible for investigating financial crimes against the EU, has not publicly disclosed the names of the individuals detained but confirmed that the immunity of several suspects has been lifted as part of this ongoing investigation.

The College of Europe operates as an independent academic institution, a destination for aspiring EU civil servants, and maintains close ties with, and receives partial funding from, the European Union.