Mogherini and Sannino detained in EU corruption investigation

Belgian police have raided the EU’s diplomatic service and the College of Europe as part of a corruption probe into an EU-funded training academy for diplomats, detaining three suspects and searching multiple premises, according to Politico.

Belgian police carried out coordinated raids on the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels and the College of Europe in Bruges on Tuesday, acting on a request from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

The operation forms part of a wider investigation into suspected fraud and irregularities surrounding the creation of the European Diplomatic Academy, a programme designed to train junior diplomats from across EU member states.

Three suspects were taken into custody, and searches were conducted at EEAS offices, college buildings, and private residences linked to the investigation.

Allegations of unfair competition in tender process

The EPPO said it has “strong suspicions” that rules on fair competition were breached when the EEAS awarded the contract to establish the academy to the College of Europe.

Prosecutors are examining whether the college received advance information about selection criteria before the tender’s official publication. The training programme, worth millions of euros, ran between 2021 and 2022 and was financed by the EU’s diplomatic service.

The EEAS — the EU’s foreign policy arm — was previously headed by former European Commission Vice-President Federica Mogherini, who later became rector of the College of Europe in 2020. Another senior official, Stefano Sannino, a top EU diplomat currently overseeing the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf department, was also named in the probe, according to Politico.

Commission confirms investigation but declines details

European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper confirmed the raids, saying:

“We can confirm that the police was at the EEAS buildings and this is part of the ongoing investigation of the activities that took place before in the previous mandate.”

She declined to comment further, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

A senior EU official told Politico the inquiry began before Kaja Kallas took office as the EU’s new foreign policy chief.

The EPPO added that it had requested the lifting of diplomatic immunity for “several suspects” to allow the probe to proceed — a request that was granted by the relevant authorities.

College of Europe declines comment

The College of Europe, an elite postgraduate institution often described as a “finishing school” for future EU officials, has declined to comment on the allegations.

The EEAS, which manages the bloc’s diplomatic relations and foreign missions, has not yet issued a statement.

Background: a growing controversy

The European Diplomatic Academy was launched in 2021 to prepare young diplomats from across the EU and candidate countries for careers in international service.

However, the project’s funding and management have drawn scrutiny over transparency and procurement practices. According to the EPPO, the ongoing investigation aims to determine whether EU competition rules were violated and whether officials involved misused their positions during the tender process.

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