Federica Mogherini, former head of EU foreign and security policy, resigned on Thursday (11/4) from her position as Dean of the College of Europe. The postgraduate institution specializing in European studies, famous for training diplomats, is at the heart of the corruption allegations that led to her being briefly detained for questioning two days ago.
She said in a statement, “In keeping with the utmost rigor and honesty with which I have always performed my duties, I have decided today to resign.”
In addition to Mogherini, Vice-President of the College of Europe and senior EU official Stefano Sannino, who was Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), of the European Union, between 2021 and 2024, was arrested on Tuesday.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which is leading the investigation, said that Belgian police had all interrogated them and “were formally notified of the charges” linked to “tender fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional confidentiality.”
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Sannino announced on Wednesday that he will retire at the end of this month from his position in the European Commission’s Directorate General for Middle East, North Africa and Gulf Affairs.
Why is Mogherini under investigation?
The case concerns an EU-funded training course for diplomats known as the European Union Diplomatic Academy.
The EU Diplomat Training Program has been awarded to College of Europe by the European External Action Service during the academic year 2021-2022. Police are investigating whether the bidding process unduly favored College of Europe.
The investigation examines whether the College of Europe or its representatives had advance knowledge of the selection criteria or whether they already knew that the institution would be selected before the official announcement of the decision by the European External Action Service.
The Attorney General’s Office said there were “strong suspicions” that fair competition rules had been violated and “that confidential information related to the ongoing bidding process had been shared with one of the candidates.”
The fraud will involve about 650,000 euros (4 million Brazilian reals), according to a source interviewed.
Mogherini’s lawyer said she denies any wrongdoing and is cooperating with authorities. Sannino said he was sure everything would be clarified.
High level of diplomacy
Mogherini ran the College of Europe from 2020, and in 2022, she took over the running of the European Union Diplomatic Academy. The Italian also served as Head of European Union Diplomacy between 2014 and 2019, and served as Vice President of the European Commission, before becoming Dean of the College of Europe. She was also Italy’s Foreign Minister for six months in 2014.
The College of Europe was founded in 1949, shortly after the end of World War II, with the aim of promoting “the spirit of solidarity and mutual understanding between all the nations of Western Europe and providing elite training for individuals who uphold these values.”
EEAS was created in 2010 to assist the EU Foreign Policy Commissioner. This is the diplomatic body responsible for implementing the bloc’s international relations.
According to the 2024 Annual Activity Report, last year the ministry’s budget reached €880.2 million (R$5.4 billion).
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