In a major development for a high-level investigation, three people were arrested on Tuesday. They are connected to a fraud case involving a multi-million-euro training contract. One of them is a former top EU foreign policy chief. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), working with Belgian police, carried out searches at the same time in two locations. These were the headquarters of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels and the College of Europe in Bruges. All three individuals were released from custody on Wednesday morning while the investigation continues.
This case has caused great concern within EU diplomatic circles. It focuses on how a valuable contract was awarded. The contract was for the EU Diplomatic Academy, a nine-month program to train future diplomats, and it was given to the College of Europe. Prosecutors are now carefully examining the tender process from 2021 to 2022. They are looking for signs of corruption and unfair advantages. A key question is whether people at the college received secret information about the selection rules, which could have helped them win the contract.
Those involved are very well-known in European politics and education. Federica Mogherini, the EU's former High Representative for Foreign Affairs, was detained. She is now the Rector of the College of Europe and also leads the EU Diplomatic Academy. Another person arrested was Stefano Sannino, a senior EEAS official responsible for the Middle East and North Africa. A third, unnamed senior official from the college was also taken in.
The investigation was large in scale. Acting on what they called "strong suspicions," EPPO officers raided both office buildings and the private homes of the officials. One witness described how officers thoroughly searched an EEAS office, saying they "literally turned the office upside down." The College of Europe has said it will not comment at this time.
This situation is very serious for the EU. It brings back memories of past corruption problems and raises difficult questions about transparency and rules within the EU's own institutions. With the investigation still ongoing, it damages public trust at a time when the EU is dealing with many complex international challenges. It is a clear reminder of the constant effort needed to ensure ethical standards are met.