The former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and current rector of the College of Europe, Federica Mogherini, is under custody by Belgian Authorities as part of investigations into possible fraud related to the management of European funds in diplomat training programs, as reported by the Belgian newspaper Le Soir.
It is recalled that in the context of the same investigation, Belgian authorities proceeded with the arrest of three individuals. Among these three individuals was Mogherini. The case concerns the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the College of Europe.
Specifically, the searches, carried out at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and authorized by the investigating judge and the Belgian Federal Police, took place in the EEAS offices in Brussels, in buildings of the College of Europe in Bruges, as well as in private residences, according to an EPPO statement. The EU anti-fraud office, OLAF, is also participating in the searches.
Belgian authorities investigate the “European Diplomatic Academy”
The Belgian authorities are investigating the “European Diplomatic Academy,” a training program for young diplomats from EU member states. As reported by Euractiv, the EEAS and the College of Europe, two institutions directly linked to European diplomatic education, have not yet made any official comment on the case.
However, Euractiv sources in Brussels note that EPPO investigations are particularly strict and often lead to tangible results when it comes to financial cases involving European funding. The College of Europe, founded in 1949, is considered the EU’s “nursery” for diplomats and civil servants, with alumni including top politicians and officials of European institutions.
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