EU's Former Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini Resigns Amid Corruption Investigation

Federica Mogherini, the former chief of foreign policy for the European Union, has stepped down from her position as head of the College of Europe amid ongoing corruption allegations. Mogherini announced her resignation to the college staff, stating that her decision aligns with her commitment to conduct her duties with utmost rigor and fairness. In addition to her role as rector, Mogherini will also resign from her position as director of the EU Diplomatic Academy, a school for junior diplomats which has become central to an inquiry involving allegations of fraud and corruption. Prosecutors indicated that they have strong suspicions that confidential information was improperly shared during a tender process associated with the establishment of the academy, which was launched in 2023 at the College of Europe with a budget close to €1 million. The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO), which recently filed formal charges against Mogherini alongside two others, has cited accusations of procurement fraud, conflicts of interest, and violations of professional secrecy. As per legal protocol, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the relevant Belgian courts. Mogherini's lawyer, Mariapaola Cherchi, affirmed her client's transparency and composure during a lengthy 10-hour interrogation, expressing confidence that Mogherini will be exonerated. Mogherini, who served as the EU's high representative for foreign policy from 2014 to 2019, was appointed as rector of the College of Europe, a distinguished postgraduate institution for EU studies with campuses in Bruges, Natolin, and Tirana. She began her second five-year term in September, having received accolades for her contribution to establishing the EU Diplomatic Academy aimed at training future EU-focused diplomats. The investigation examines whether the College of Europe had prior insider knowledge that enabled it to win the contract awarded by the EU's foreign service between 2021 and 2022. Another individual formally accused in this case is Stefano Sannino, who served as the top civil servant at the European External Action Service (EEAS) from 2021 to 2024. He has since suspended his activities with the commission until the end of the year due to the allegations, remaining optimistic about the clarifications that will emerge from the investigation. The inquiry included raids at the EEAS headquarters in Brussels and at Mogherini's residence, possibly providing ammunition for the critics of EU policies both domestically and internationally. Notably, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau took to social media to highlight Mogherini's previous characterization of communist Cuba as a 'one-party democracy,' underscoring concerns about European investments that may have bolstered the repressive regime on the island. This commentary referenced an annual report on human rights and democracy from 2016, which came out during Mogherini's tenure and noted significant challenges to political freedoms in Cuba. As these developments unfold, the EU and its institutions are faced with the challenge of maintaining their integrity and public trust in light of serious allegations against high-ranking officials. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2