分类： politics

BRUSSELS — Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s former foreign policy chief, has resigned from her leadership role at the prestigious College of Europe following her involvement in a burgeoning fraud investigation. The announcement came Thursday as Belgian authorities continue their probe into alleged procurement irregularities at the institution.

Mogherini stepped down from her dual positions as Rector of the Bruges-based College of Europe and Director of the European Union Diplomatic Academy. In her resignation statement, she emphasized her commitment to “utmost rigor and fairness” in fulfilling her duties but provided no specific explanation for her departure.

The investigation escalated Tuesday when Belgian federal police conducted simultaneous raids at both the EU diplomatic service headquarters in Brussels and the College of Europe campus in Bruges. Mogherini was detained for questioning along with a senior college administrator and a European Commission official. All three were subsequently released after investigators determined they presented no flight risk.

According to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation centers on multiple allegations including procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and breaches of professional secrecy. The probe examines potential misconduct in the awarding of contracts and management of funds at the esteemed institution known for training Europe’s future diplomats.

Despite the serious allegations, Mogherini expressed pride in her accomplishments during her tenure and gratitude for the support received from students, faculty, and alumni. The College of Europe, established in 1949, has long served as a premier educational institution for European affairs and international relations.

The British government has imposed comprehensive sanctions against Russia’s GRU intelligence agency and summoned Moscow’s ambassador following an official inquiry that established President Vladimir Putin’s direct responsibility for the 2018 nerve agent attack on British territory.

An investigation led by former UK Supreme Court Justice Anthony Hughes concluded that the assassination attempt targeting former Soviet agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury was “authorized at the highest level” by the Russian president. The attack severely injured Skripal and his daughter Yulia through exposure to the military-grade nerve agent Novichok.

The inquiry further determined that Dawn Sturgess, a British civilian who subsequently died after encountering a discarded perfume container containing the chemical weapon, represented “an innocent victim of an attempt by officers of a Russian state organization.” Her partner and police officer Nick Bailey also suffered serious medical complications but survived the exposure.

In addition to sanctioning the GRU in its entirety, the UK Foreign Office identified eight alleged cyber military intelligence officers accused of targeting Yulia Skripal with malware half a decade prior to the Novichok incident.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer characterized the findings as “a grave reminder of the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent lives,” stating that Sturgess’ “needless death was a tragedy and will forever be a reminder of Russia’s reckless aggression.” Moscow continues to deny any involvement in the chemical weapons incident.

A Vilnius district court has delivered a landmark verdict against Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the coalition partner Nemuno Aušra party, convicting him Thursday for antisemitic hate speech and Holocaust minimization. The court imposed a €5,000 fine—significantly below prosecutors’ requested €51,000 penalty—for comments deemed to have “incited hatred against Jews” and “grossly downplayed Nazi Germany’s crimes.

The case centered on inflammatory social media posts from May-June 2023, including one comparing the demolition of Palestinian schools to “pastime” activities for Lithuanian Jews, alongside antisemitic nursery rhymes and historically distorted World War II references. Judge Nida Vigelienė condemned Žemaitaitis’s language as “degrading, violating human dignity and demonstrating hatred.”

Despite having resigned from parliament in 2024 following a constitutional court ruling that he violated his oath, Žemaitaitis returned to politics through elections last year. His populist party subsequently joined the center-left Social Democrats’ governing coalition, though he holds no cabinet position.

The convicted leader, absent during proceedings, denounced the verdict as “politicized” and plans to appeal. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats issued a Facebook statement condemning antisemitism and Holocaust denial as incompatible with party values, while acknowledging the non-final status of the ruling.

In a notable rhetorical pivot, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has initiated a deliberate campaign to advocate for enhanced economic collaboration with the European Union, while simultaneously affirming his commitment to the fundamental structure of the post-Brexit settlement. This nuanced positioning represents Starmer’s most explicit acknowledgment to date that the current Brexit agreement has adversely impacted Britain’s economic landscape.

The Prime Minister articulated this stance across multiple high-profile platforms on Monday, including an op-ed in The Guardian and speeches to influential audiences. He characterized the implementation of Brexit as ‘botched’ and lamented the ‘wild promises’ made to the British public that remained unfulfilled. ‘One element of our economic renewal will be continuing to move towards a closer trading relationship with the EU,’ Starmer declared, marking a significant evolution from his previous cautious approach to EU relations.

Despite this rhetorical shift, government sources emphasize that substantial policy changes remain unlikely. During Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer reaffirmed that remaining outside the single market and customs union constitute ‘clear red lines’ for his administration. The apparent contradiction between rhetoric and policy reflects a carefully calibrated strategy to prepare the ground for incremental improvements in specific sectors rather than wholesale renegotiation.

Current negotiations focus on technical enhancements including streamlined food checks, carbon tariff agreements, and potential youth mobility schemes. The recent cabinet appointment of Nick Thomas-Symonds, who has overseen EU negotiations, has sparked speculation about more ambitious goals, though government insiders characterize this as organizational restructuring rather than policy shift.

Within government circles, a quiet debate persists regarding the possibility of customs union reintegration. Some advisors, including Starmer’s chief economics adviser Baroness Shafik, reportedly advocate rejoining the customs union as the most straightforward method to stimulate economic growth. However, practical obstacles remain substantial, including potential EU demands for concessions and the sacrifice of Britain’s independent trade policy—a cornerstone of the government’s current international approach.

Politically, Labour strategists detect shifting public attitudes toward Brexit. According to one ‘red wall’ MP representing a strongly pro-Leave constituency: ‘It’s much less visceral than it was. Even in constituencies like mine there’s space to go quite far. The single market is a non-starter because you reopen the immigration issue. But there’s space to rejoin the customs union. It’s about trade. No-one is going to object to better trade.’

This assessment finds support in recent polling indicating majority public belief that leaving the EU was mistaken. A cabinet minister noted the changing political landscape: ‘Brexit is becoming like the Iraq War. Lots of people supported it at the time but now you can’t find anyone who admits to it.’

The government’s calibrated approach reflects both economic pragmatism and political calculation, seeking to appeal to progressive voters desiring closer EU ties while avoiding alienation of traditional Brexit supporters. This balancing act will likely define Britain’s evolving relationship with Europe throughout Starmer’s premiership.