Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s former Foreign Policy Chief, has stepped down from her position as Rector of Belgium’s prestigious College of Europe following her detention for questioning in a corruption investigation. The probe, initiated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), centers on alleged irregularities in the awarding of an EU-funded training contract for junior diplomats to the institution.
Ms. Mogherini, 52, who led the esteemed Bruges-based college since 2020, was interrogated for approximately ten hours alongside another college staff member and a senior European Commission official. Although released without formal charges, the investigation specifically examines whether competitive bidding procedures were properly followed when the EU’s European External Action Service contracted the college for a nine-month diplomatic training program.
The high-profile case emerges at a politically sensitive moment for the European Union, which has recently intensified its anti-corruption stance, particularly regarding Ukraine’s governance challenges. Mogherini, who helped establish the EU’s fledgling Diplomatic Academy in partnership with the college in 2022, maintained her innocence in subsequent statements.
In her resignation announcement, the former diplomat emphasized her ‘full confidence in the justice system’ and stated her decision aligned with ‘the utmost rigor and fairness’ that characterized her tenure. She further affirmed the college’s continued adherence to ‘the highest standards of integrity’ while pledging full cooperation with investigating authorities.
The case represents a significant test for the relatively new EPPO, which gained authority to investigate EU fund-related crimes across member states, highlighting the bloc’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption within its institutions.