Belgian authorities have detained Federica Mogherini, the former EU foreign policy chief, and a senior diplomat in a fraud investigation. The probe, led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), focuses on alleged fraud related to an EU-funded training program for junior diplomats. The program, known as the European Union Diplomatic Academy, was awarded to the College of Europe in 2021-2022 after a tender process. The EPPO suspects that confidential information was shared during this process with one of the candidates participating in the tender. The investigation also includes raids at the EU's diplomatic service in Brussels and the houses of suspects. Mogherini and the senior diplomat, Stefano Sannino, are Italian nationals and well-known in Brussels diplomatic circles. The EPPO has requested the lifting of the immunity of several suspects, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the Belgian courts. The EU diplomatic service is fully cooperating with the authorities, and the College of Europe has pledged to cooperate transparently and uphold the highest standards of integrity and compliance.
