The EU’s former foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has been detained by Belgian police as part of an anti-fraud investigation. Stefano Sannino, a top EU civil servant, was also taken into questioning on Tuesday.
Federica Mogherini, the former High Representative of the European Union, has been detained during police raids as part of an anti-fraud investigation that has sent shockwaves across Brussels.
Mogherini was among three suspects taken 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.
As High Representative, Mogherini helmed the EEAS and led the bloc’s foreign policy between 2014 and 2019. She has been the rector of the College of Europe, a prestigious university that receives EU funding, since September 2020.
The second detainee is Stefano Sannino, a well-known senior EU official who served as EEAS secretary general from 2021 to 2024.
In February this year, Sannino took up the position of director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA), which was created to strengthen relations with the bloc’s neighbourhood.
Euronews confirmed both identities after Belgian media first reported the news.
The third individual is a manager at the College of Europe, according to Le Soir.
“The College of Europe will fully cooperate with the authorities in the interest of transparency and respect for the investigative process,” the institution said.
“The College remains committed to the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and compliance — both in academic and administrative matters. The College takes all necessary measures to ensure the continuity of its activities.”
What is the probe about?
Tuesday’s raids were carried out at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which is probing suspected fraud related to an EU-funded project.
In a statement, the EPPO said that the investigation is centred on the European Union Diplomatic Academy, a nine-month training for young diplomats that was awarded under a public tender to the College of Europe in Belgium between 2021 and 2022.
The investigation is seeking to determine whether the EEAS broke its tendering rules by sharing information with the College before the project was formally awarded.
The EPPO said there are “strong suspicions” that EU rules on fair competition were breached during the tendering process and that “confidential information related to the ongoing procurement was shared with one of the candidates participating in the tender.”
The facts “could constitute procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy,” the EPPO said. “The investigation is ongoing to clarify the facts and assess whether any criminal offences have occurred.”
A spokesperson for the EEAS confirmed the police raids on the buildings, noting the ongoing case related to activities from “the previous mandate”.
The EEAS is currently headed by High Representative Kaja Kallas, who replaced Josep Borrell in December 2025. Borrell took office after Mogherini’s departure in 2019.
The spokesperson declined to comment on whether any of the three detainees were acting EU officials. Tuesday’s operation unfolded after “the lifting of the immunity”, the EPPO said, suggesting the individuals were high-ranking.
Belgian police declined to comment.
/Euronews/
