Former European Union Commission Vice President and ex-foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini now faces serious allegations of procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and violation of professional secrecy. According to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), these charges have led to an expansive investigation involving several prominent institutions.
The EPPO has detained Mogherini alongside two other high-profile individuals in conjunction with their probe. This investigation included raids on the College of Europe, the European External Action Service (EEAS) headquarters, as well as the homes of those involved. To facilitate the investigation, the EPPO lifted immunities under EU Law, specifically Protocol No 7 on EU privileges and immunities.
Mogherini, who served as the EU’s foreign affairs representative from 2014 to 2019, and briefly as Italy’s foreign minister, took on the role of rector at the College of Europe. The allegations center around fraudulent activities regarding the disbursement of 130,000 euros intended for a diplomat training program. There are suspicions that during her tenure as rector, the college circumvented EU tendering rules in securing these funds. It is alleged that they were privy to selection criteria before the official tender notice by the EEAS, potentially breaching Article 169 of the Financial Regulation, which mandates fair competition.
Such EU public funding is expected to follow a stringent tendering process, a norm violated according to the EPPO, possibly compromising the integrity of the allocation process. Mogherini, in response to the accusations, expressed her confidence in the justice system and reaffirmed the College’s commitment to integrity and fairness. Her resignation as Rector on Thursday followed swiftly.
The incident has reverberated across EU institutions, with current EU Commission Vice President Roxana Mînzatu voicing her shock and stressing the necessity for independent probes to maintain public trust within the EU framework. The developments in this case continue to unfold, underscoring a pivotal moment for accountability within European public institutions.