Overview
- Belgian police searched the European External Action Service in Brussels, multiple College of Europe sites in Bruges, and the suspects’ residences on EPPO orders.
- Federica Mogherini, College of Europe rector and former EU foreign policy chief, was detained for questioning and released after being formally notified of allegations.
- Stefano Sannino and another College of Europe official were likewise imputed, with prosecutors listing possible offenses including procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and breach of professional secrecy.
- The investigation focuses on the EU Diplomatic Academy training program for 2021–22, which the EEAS under Josep Borrell awarded to the College of Europe, with probes into whether selection criteria were improperly shared.
- The case is in the evidence-gathering phase under an independent EU prosecutor, with the contract’s value reported at about €650,000 and further document and witness reviews under way.