The former EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, and the Director-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Stefano Sannino, were arrested for alleged involvement in fraud concerning the management of European funds in programs for diplomats.
Specifically, it is being investigated whether the EEAS assignment to the College of Europe for a program of the EU Diplomatic Academy, in 2021–2022, was carried out under terms of favoritism, according to Politico.
European officials are accused of favoring European diplomat candidates of their choice, into senior positions, in violation of the rules.
The investigations, conducted at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and approved by the Belgian police, took place at the EEAS in Brussels, at buildings of the College of Europe in Bruges, and in private residences, according to an EPPO statement.
The EEAS is the diplomatic service of the EU, and the College of Europe is a postgraduate institution with alumni including current and former European prime ministers, among others.
The EEAS is the EU’s foreign policy body, and until 2019 it was led by Francesca Mogherini, who is also a former Vice-President of the European Commission. Since 2020, Mogherini has been the rector of the College of Europe.
The third person arrested is Cesare Zegretti, co-director of the Executive Education, Training and Projects Office of the College of Europe. The three of them were released today (03.12.2025).
“The events under investigation were initially reported to OLAF,” the European Anti-Fraud Office, stated the EPPO. “The investigation is ongoing in order to clarify the facts and assess whether criminal offenses have been committed.”
Πηγή: Politico [1], [2], Καθημερινή
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