The former head of European diplomacy, Federica Mogherini, announced on Wednesday, shortly after her release by police, that she had “full confidence in the judicial system and I am confident that the academic’s actions will be verified.” … Of course, I will continue to offer my full cooperation to the authorities. The political leader spent more than ten hours detained by order of European Prosecutor’s Office and the Belgian, with support from the European Union Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
Without mentioning her name, the European Prosecutor’s Office indicated that Mogherini had already been officially notified of the charges against her. Bid fraud To manage the Young Diplomats Training Academy, awarded to College of Europe By the European Union Foreign Service, whose budget was approx 900,000 euros. The investigation also revealed the purchase of a building to house the students of this course for diplomats, specifically on Los Españoles Street in the city of Bruges, whose value will be estimated at more than three million euros.
Mogherini, who was Italy’s Foreign Minister in the Social Democratic government, was arrested Matteo RenziIt caused an earthquake in Brussels. But for now, the official spokesperson for the Commission said: Paula PinhoThe matter was limited to saying that “as long as the judicial process continues,” the institution will not comment on anything that affects whoever previously held the position of its vice president. European officials privately insist that the matters of which the Italian is accused occurred “before the takeover of the current Commission” and before the Latvian’s arrival at the European External Action Service (EEAS). Kaja Kalas To the position of supreme representative.
The situation also caused some uproar ItalyNote that the three people arrested so far are Italians. In addition to Mogherini, the ambassador is accused Stefano Sanninowho at the time of the investigated events was Director General of the European External Action Service but yesterday submitted his resignation from his current position as Head of Relations with the Arab World; and Cesare Szigetihead of programs at the European College of Bruges, is Italian-Belgian.
In the last major corruption scandal in European institutions, the one known as “Qatar Portal” Which was supposedly a network that accepted bribes from Qatar and Morocco to influence parliamentary votes, and was also dominated by Italian politicians. Although the main accused was the Vice President of the European Parliament at the time, Eva Kylie(Greek and also a socialist), and her Italian husband was also involved, Francesco GiorgiWho was an assistant to the European Parliament Andrea Cozzolinoalso from the Socialist Group. He is considered the main instigator Antonio PanzeriA former member of the European Parliament for the same Democratic Party, the Italian partner of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament.
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According to the Italian press, it is possible that the complaint came from a spy who would have alerted OLAF. But it was not possible to find out whether it came from within the European External Action Service or if the complaint came from an organization that was competing for this competition and felt aggrieved by the terms under which the public competition was resolved.
Mogherini was High Representative from 2014 to 2019, after a brief period as Italian Foreign Minister. She was later appointed Dean of the College of Europe, a postgraduate center for training future European officials and politicians. His appointment in 2020 proved controversial, with some alumni saying he lacked the academic qualifications and experience needed to lead that important academic institution.