Belgian Police Arrest Former EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini on Fraud and Corruption Charges

Belgian police detained former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after raids at the College of Europe campus in Bruges and at European External Action Service (EEAS) premises in Brussels.

“The EU's former foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has been charged along with two others in a probe into "fraud and corruption" over contracts to train future European diplomats, prosecutors said Wednesday”

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The actions were part of an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) into alleged procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy.

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The three suspects were questioned, formally notified of the accusations and released because they were not considered flight risks.

The detained group consistently includes Federica Mogherini alongside a senior College of Europe official and a high-ranking EU official.

Multiple reports identify Stefano Sannino, the former EEAS secretary-general, among those questioned.

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Some outlets also name Cesare Degliotti or describe the other suspect simply as the college's deputy rector or a senior staffer.

Belgian police questioned the three individuals and released them pending further proceedings.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) says the probe centers on the award of a 2021–22 tender for the EU Diplomatic Academy.

“Topic:World Politics The EU ex-top diplomat has been charged in a 'fraud and corruption' probe”

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The Academy is a nine-month training programme for junior diplomats.

Reports disagree on the sums involved, with several outlets citing a contract worth about €650,000.

At least one outlet describes the sums tied to the programme as about €1.7 million.

Investigators are examining possible procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and breaches of professional secrecy.

Some reports allege confidential EEAS information may have been shared with the College.

Several institutions emphasised cooperation with investigators and the presumption of innocence.

The College of Europe, the European Commission and the EEAS said they will cooperate with investigators.

ANSA

Federica Mogherini and Stefano Sannino publicly said they trust the justice system and expect clarification.

The EPPO and several media outlets stressed that the allegations are unproven and that suspects remain presumed innocent.

Some outlets also flagged political risks and warned of reputational damage for the EU given prior scandals.

Observers placed the investigation in a wider context of EU corruption controversies and institutional reform.

“A woman on X called for a “full travel ban” on every country she accused of “flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies,” without naming specific nations”

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Multiple sources linked the probe to broader concerns about procurement and the EU's anti-corruption credibility, noting the 2022 'Qatargate' fallout.

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Some outlets reported potential implications for pending anti-corruption legislation and for parliamentary scrutiny.

Other reports limited their coverage to the narrow facts of the raids and the formal accusations.