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Federica Mogherini, the former High Representative of the European Union, has resigned as rector of the College of Europe after being accused of fraud and corruption in a probe launched by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).
Mogherini had served as rector in the elite institution since 2020.
“In line with the utmost rigour and fairness with which I always carried out my duties, today I decided to resign as Rector of the College of Europe and Director of the European Union Diplomatic Academy,” Mogherini wrote in an email seen by Euronews.
“I am proud of what we have achieved together and I am deeply grateful for the trust, esteem, and support that students, faculty, staff, and Alumni of the College and the Academy have shown and are showing to me,” she added.
“It has been an honor and a pleasure for me to serve the College community and its mission, together with all of you.”
Mogherini was among three suspects taken in for questioning on Tuesday morning after Belgian authorities searched the offices of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the College of Europe in the city of Bruges, and a series of private homes.
The investigation is centred on the European Union Diplomatic Academy, a nine-month training course for young diplomats that was awarded under a public tender to the College of Europe in Belgium between 2021 and 2022.
Prosecutors are seeking to determine whether the EEAS broke its tendering rules by sharing information with the College before the project was formally awarded.
Stefano Sannino, who served as EEAS secretary general from 2021 to 2024, is also under investigation. He has taken an early leave of absence from his position as director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA). Sannino plans to retire at the end of this year, a decision that was made before the scandal broke out on Tuesday.
A third person, believed to be a manager at the College of Europe, was also detained.
The three individuals were released on Wednesday after being questioned by police and formally notified of the accusations: procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy.
