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Former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has been charged with fraud in an investigation into the EU’s misuse of funds, the European Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said.
EPPO said searches were carried out on Tuesday at the European Institute in Bruges, Belgium, where Ms Mogherini heads, and at the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, the office she ran for five years as the EU’s top diplomat.
The investigation relates to EU-funded training of junior diplomats, EPPO means.
In addition to Ms Mogherini, a senior staff member of the Academy of Europe and a senior official of the European Commission were also detained, the prosecutor’s office added.
According to the EPPO, the three were formally informed of the charges against them: “The charges relate to procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and breach of professional confidentiality.”
They were all subsequently released because they were not considered a flight risk and their homes were searched.
Under Belgian law, a person can be arrested and then released without charge while remaining a suspect.
EPPO said the investigation focused on a tender awarded by the EEAS to the European Academy in 2021-2022.
It added that there ‘Strong suspicion’ of favoritism Involves a tender for a nine-month training course for junior diplomats.
The European Patent Organization, which investigates alleged crimes against the EU’s economic interests, has not yet released the names of those detained but said the immunity of several suspects had been lifted as part of the investigation.
The College of Europe is an independent school for aspiring EU civil servants. It is closely linked to and partly funded by the EU.
