By AML Intelligence Correspondents
EUROPEAN PROSECUTORS have arrested three people including the EU’s former top diplomat Federica Mogherini – and raided the EU foreign service HQ along with the elite College of Europe – as part of a fraud inquiry.
The three were detained “as part of a probe into suspected fraud related to EU-funded training for junior diplomats”, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said in a statement, without naming individuals.
Mogherini who is currently the rector of the College of Europe, was among the three arrested.
Two others from “diplomatic circles” had also been arrested over possible “procurement fraud, corruption and conflicts of interest”. The College of Europe did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
In a statement, the EPPO told AML Intelligence:
“Searches are being carried out today at the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, as part of a probe into suspected fraud related to EU-funded training for junior diplomats, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Brussels. Three suspects were detained.
At the EPPO’s request, approved by the investigating judge, the Federal Police (FGP West-Vlaanderen) conducted searches in several buildings of the College of Europe in Bruges, at the European External Action Service in Brussels, and at the houses of suspects. The investigative measures also counted on support from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
At issue is the project for the European Union Diplomatic Academy – a nine-month training program for junior diplomats across Member States –, which was awarded by the European External Action Service to the College of Europe in Belgium, in the period 2021 – 2022, following a tender procedure.
The investigation focuses on whether the College of Europe and/or their representatives were informed in advance about the selection criteria of the tender procedure and had sufficient reason to believe that they would be awarded the implementation of the project, prior to the official publication by the EEAS of the tender notice.
There are strong suspicions that, during the tendering process for the programme, article 169 of the Financial Regulation related to fair competition was breached, and that confidential information related to the ongoing procurement was shared with one of the candidates participating in the tender.Prior to the searches, the EPPO requested the lifting of the immunity of several suspects, which was granted.
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