Federica Mogherini, the European Union's former high representative for foreign affairs, has resigned from her prestigious role leading the College of Europe. Her departure follows her formal indictment by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in a significant corruption and fraud investigation.
Resignation and Formal Charges
In a statement sent to staff on Thursday, Mogherini announced her decision to step down as rector of the elite postgraduate institution. She stated her resignation was "in line with the utmost rigour and fairness" with which she had always performed her duties. Simultaneously, she also stood down as director of the EU Diplomatic Academy, a training school for junior diplomats which is central to the ongoing probe.
The EPPO, the EU's independent prosecution body, has brought formal charges against Mogherini and two other individuals this week. The accusations are serious and multifaceted, encompassing procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and the violation of professional secrecy. The case focuses on a tender process for establishing the EU Diplomatic Academy, which launched in 2023 with a budget close to €1 million.
The Investigation's Core Allegations
Prosecutors have articulated "strong suspicions" that confidential information was improperly shared with one of the bidders during the tender. The investigation is examining whether the College of Europe, under Mogherini's leadership, used inside knowledge to secure the lucrative contract. This contract was awarded by the EU's diplomatic wing, the European External Action Service (EEAS), during the 2021-22 period.
The inquiry has involved dramatic steps, including raids on the EEAS headquarters in Brussels and a search of Mogherini's private residence. Through her lawyer, Mariapaola Cherchi, Mogherini has maintained her innocence. Cherchi told the Associated Press that her client was "transparent, clear and serene" during a lengthy ten-hour questioning session and expressed confidence she would be exonerated.
Wider Fallout and Political Reactions
The second individual charged is Stefano Sannino, the EEAS's top civil servant from 2021 to 2024, who later led the European Commission's department for the Middle East and North Africa. The European Commission confirmed Sannino is "no longer active in his function" and has taken leave ahead of his planned retirement at year's end, emphasising the legal presumption of innocence.
The scandal is poised to fuel criticism of the EU from both domestic and international opponents. Notably, Christopher Landau, a former US deputy secretary of state, highlighted the case on social media, criticising Mogherini's past diplomatic stance towards Cuba. He referenced a 2016 EU human rights report from her tenure that controversially described Cuba as a "one-party democracy," a characterisation that drew significant criticism at the time.
Mogherini, who served as the EU's foreign policy chief from 2014 to 2019, began a second five-year term as rector only in September. Her reappointment was publicly praised for her role in founding the very academy now under scrutiny. The EPPO has reiterated that all accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Belgian courts, where the legal process will now unfold.
