In brief
Federica Mogherini, the former EU foreign policy chief, has been implicated in a fraud investigation conducted by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). The probe involves alleged misuse of EU funds for a training program intended for junior diplomats. Along with Mogherini, a senior staff member from the College of Europe and an official from the European Commission have been named in the accusations, which include procurement fraud and conflict of interest. Searches were carried out at key locations, including the College of Europe, during the investigation.
The EU's former foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has been accused of fraud as part of an EU investigation into the misuse of funds, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has said.The EPPO said searches were carried out on Tuesday at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, headed by Ms. Mogherini, as well as the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels - the office she ran for five years as the bloc's top diplomat.The investigation relates to EU-funded training for junior diplomats, and, as well as Ms. Mogherini, a senior College of Europe staff member and a senior official from the European Commission were detained, the prosecutor's office added.According to the EPPO, the three were formally told of the allegations against them: the accusations concern procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy.They were all subsequently released as they were not considered a flight risk and their homes were also searched. Under Belgian law, a person can be arrested then released without being charged, while remaining a suspect.The investigation focuses on a tender that the EEAS awarded to the College of Europe in 2021-2022. The EPPO indicated that there were strong suspicions of favouritism related to the tender for a nine-month training course for junior diplomats.The EPPO, which investigates alleged crimes against the financial interests of the EU, has not released the names of the individuals held, but noted that the immunity of several suspects had been lifted as part of this investigation.The College of Europe is an independent school attended by aspiring EU civil servants and is closely associated with and partly funded by the EU.
