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Former EU Foreign Policy Chief and Senior EEAS Official Detained in Anti-Fraud Raids

04:30 AM, 12/03/2025
Former EU Foreign Policy Chief and Senior EEAS Official Detained in Anti-Fraud Raids

The former EU high representative Federica Mogherini and senior EEAS official Stefano Sannino were detained in Belgium as part of an EPPO-led investigation into alleged procurement irregularities. Raids took place at the EEAS in Brussels and the College of Europe in Bruges; a third person was also detained. Investigators are examining whether the 2021–2022 tender for the nine-month EU Diplomatic Academy was improperly steered and whether confidential procurement information was shared. No charges have been filed; a judge has 48 hours to decide next steps while the probe continues.

Belgian authorities detained the former EU high representative for foreign affairs and a senior official from the European External Action Service (EEAS) during coordinated raids linked to a procurement probe, officials said. Searches were carried out at EEAS headquarters in Brussels and at the College of Europe campus in Bruges.

Federica Mogherini, who led EU foreign policy from 2014 to 2019 and now serves as president of the College of Europe, was among those detained. Stefano Sannino, a former Italian diplomat and the EEAS director general responsible for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, was also taken into custody. A third person was detained but has not been publicly identified.

What investigators are looking into

Authorities, led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) with support from the European Anti-Fraud Office, said the probe focuses on the procurement process for the EU Diplomatic Academy, a nine-month training programme for junior diplomats from member states. The EEAS awarded the contract for the programme to the College of Europe during 2021–2022.

Investigators are examining whether the tender process was improperly influenced and whether confidential information about the procurement was shared with a bidder.

The EPPO has said it has strong suspicions that confidential information related to the procurement was shared with one of the candidates, which, if proven, could amount to procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and breaches of professional secrecy.

Belgian police also searched the homes of the suspects. The EPPO obtained the lifting of immunity for several suspects prior to the raids to allow investigators to proceed.

Legal status and next steps

None of the detainees has been formally charged. A judge has up to 48 hours to decide whether to order further detention or other measures. The EPPO said the investigation is ongoing and that authorities are working to clarify the facts and determine whether criminal offences occurred.

Context

Mogherini served as EU high representative from 2014 to 2019 and later became president of the College of Europe, an institution that trains many future European officials. She was succeeded at the EEAS by Josep Borrell in 2019; the current high representative took office about a year ago. Authorities say the inquiry relates to activities that occurred under previous mandates.

This remains an active investigation. No conclusions have been reached and the suspects retain the right to due process.

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Former EU Foreign Policy Chief and Senior EEAS Official Detained in Anti-Fraud Raids - CRBC News