The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has ordered the arrest of Federica Mogherini, former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and current rector of the College of Europe, as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the awarding of diplomatic training programs.
The operation, carried out in Brussels, has shaken the EU institutions due to the profile of those involved and the scope of the contracts under suspicion.
Why Federica Mogherini, former EU High Representative, has been arrested
The arrest of Mogherini (who was the top European diplomat between 2014 and 2019) is part of an investigation seeking to clarify whether the College of Europe had privileged access to the selection criteria of a training program awarded by the European External Action Service (EEAS).
That project, intended to train young diplomats, was tendered between 2021 and 2022 and is now under review for suspicions of procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and disclosure of confidential information.
Belgian media also confirmed that along with Mogherini were arrested Stefano Sannino, former Secretary General of the EEAS and current head of the Directorate General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf of the European Commission, as well as a senior manager of the College of Europe. According to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, investigators are trying to determine whether the institution headed by Mogherini received key information in advance that would have given it an advantage in the bidding process.
European Public Prosecutor’s Office deploys searches and requests waiver of immunities
The police operation included searches at the headquarters of the EU External Action Service, at the homes of those under investigation in Brussels and in several buildings of the College of Europe in Bruges. According to the agency itself, the withdrawal of immunities of certain suspects was previously requested, a procedure that was authorized before proceeding with the arrests.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (created in 2021 as an independent body in charge of prosecuting crimes affecting the financial interests of the Union) investigates both the possible misappropriation of funds and any actions that have violated the rules of integrity in public procurement.
Mogherini’s profile and the program under suspicion
After her time as Italy’s foreign minister, Mogherini became the leading diplomatic voice of the European bloc during Jean-Claude Juncker’s term in office at the Commission. During that period, she led, among other issues, the negotiations with Iran on its nuclear program.
Since 2020 he has headed the College of Europe, a prestigious institution linked to the training of EU officials. His official website also notes that since 2022 he has headed the EU Diplomatic Academy, precisely the program at the center of the criminal investigation.
His arrest and that of Sannino (a key figure in the European diplomatic architecture) represent one of the biggest institutional scandals since the launch of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and open a new phase in a case that could have far-reaching political repercussions.
