Federica Mogheriniwho has been one of the most notorious figures in European foreign policy in the last decade, is at the center of an investigation for alleged irregularities in the awarding of a pilot program aimed at training future diplomats of the European Union (EU).
Mogherini was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy and, between 2014 and 2019, she served as High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission. At the end of that period, she was appointed rector of the College of Europea prestigious postgraduate institution that has historically served as a “quarry” for European officials.
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On Tuesday, December 2, Belgian police, under the direction of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), carried out a series of raids at the offices of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, on the premises of the College of Europe in Bruges and in the residences of those investigated. Among those detained are Mogherini; Stefano Sannino, former Secretary General of the European External Action Service and current Director General of the Directorate General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA) of the European Commission; and a senior College official.
The investigation, according to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), focuses on the award in 2021-2022 of a public contract to implement a training program for diplomats: the European Union Diplomatic Academy (EUDA). The main accusation is that during this process would have leaked confidential information that would have given an improper advantage to the College of Europefavoring your selection.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini. (EFE)
The formal charges, for now presumed, include fraud in public procurement, corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy. After arrests and interrogations, those involved were releasedsince they are not considered a flight risk. The investigation continues.
On Wednesday the 3rd, the former head of EU diplomacy was charged along with the others involved in the investigation.
Why is this case relevant?
- Transparency and institutional trust: This episode directly attacks the core of the institutions of the European Union. The involvement in corruption cases of such a high-ranking figure, who for years was the head of community diplomacy, could undermine confidence in the EU.
- Reputational and political risk: The diplomat training program (EUDA) plays a fundamental role in the preparation of future EU officials. If it is proven that its award was marked by irregularities, not only the contract would be called into question, but also the reputation of the College of Europe and those who promoted the initiative, including Mogherini. Furthermore, this could undermine the moral credibility of the EU in its discourse on integrity and good governance.
- A precedent of accountability: The EPPO action against senior officials shows that control mechanisms over the use of European funds can reach even the most powerful elites. If sanctions are imposed, this case could serve as a strong deterrent against future wrongdoing.
- Transparency in hiring processes and diplomatic education: The scandal highlights the need to review the bidding, evaluation and award processes of projects within the EU, especially when they involve influential institutions.
Political and diplomatic impact
The internationalist Enrique Banús Irusta maintains that the impact of the case on the credibility of the European Union It will be limited and should not cause an institutional breakdown. Banús acknowledges that the episode “erodes just like any case of corruption,” but believes that it is not a scandal capable of shaking the foundations of the bloc. “It is not something that shakes the fundamentals”he states, highlighting that the majority of citizens “he doesn’t even know that a European foreign service exists” and, therefore, they hardly perceive the seriousness of the case. However, the expert emphasizes that, although it is not a case of large sums of money, it does constitute a serious failure within the European system.
Jorge Chávez Manzuelos, international analyst, agrees that the case is serious, but contextualizes it within the debate on the legitimacy of the European project. For him, the scandal could be exploited politically: “This could be an object of attack for certain sovereigntist parties (…) who consider that the European Union misuses the funds of European citizens”. He adds that the leak of information “It goes against all those credentials that the European Union has taken care to build”.
In that sense, Chávez maintains that cases like this fuel the perception of democratic deficit and could erode citizen trust at a politically delicate moment for the EU.
The European Union is an example of an association of countries that have mutually prospered thanks to free trade.
Lack of control?
Specialists have different views. Banús rules out that this episode requires strengthening supervision mechanisms. He explains that the OLAF agency has already acted in accordance with its powers: “There is no need to strengthen the mechanisms; they already exist and have worked”. He adds that in complex processes there is always the possibility of leaks and that it would be unrealistic to apply extreme controls.
Chávez, on the other hand, maintains that it is necessary to maintain strict vigilance to prevent this type of scandals from eroding community legitimacy: “It is important that there are institutions that supervise; this type of scandals further undermines the legitimacy of the integration process”.
The prestige of the College of Europe
Although the “quarry” institution of diplomatic officials in Europe has a solid international prestige, both experts agree that it will not suffer major damage. Banús considers that the institution maintains a consolidated prestige for decades and that the eventual criminal liability of some official – including Mogherini – will not change its historical role in the training of European diplomats.
Chávez agrees that regular postgraduate training is not in question, although he remembers that what was investigated corresponds only to the pilot program of the Diplomatic Academy.
Beyond the investigations, both experts recommend caution. Banús reminds that the process has just begun and that a media condemnation should not be rushed: “You have to wait… what happens next rarely receives the same attention”.
Chávez, for his part, emphasizes that this scandal can have political repercussions if responsibility is confirmed, especially in a context of growth of the radical right in Europe. However, he clarifies that the very existence of the scandal is proof that the controls work: “The anti-corruption agency acts without respect of persons.”
A case that will test the EU
The arrest and indictment of Federica Mogherini marks a dramatic turn in European diplomacy and brings to light old structural problems: transparency, conflict of interest, favoritism and control of public funds. Beyond being an individual controversial case, this matter calls into question the institutional quality of key EU bodies.
As the investigation progresses, and all those involved maintain the presumption of innocence, what is clear is that there is an urgent demand for accountability, structural reform in procurement processes and a genuine commitment to transparency. The outcome of this case will be a crucial barometer of the level of integrity the European Union is willing to show when it comes to allegations against its most prominent figures.
