College of Europe: Senior EU officials resign after corruption charges

The EU's former foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has resigned from her role as head of the College of Europe in Bruges after being charged with fraud in a corruption investigation.

Stefano Sannino, the senior European Commission official who was arrested as part of an investigation into possible fraud involving EU funds, has also announced his resignation.

Mogherini, Sannino and an employee of the College of Europe were arrested on Tuesday after searches were carried out at various College of Europe buildings in Bruges, at the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels and at a number of private residences.

The arrests are part of an investigation ordered by the European Public Prosecutor's Office related to suspected fraud involving the award of EU funds for the training of junior diplomats at the elite college.

The three were questioned and charged with fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest and breach of professional secrecy for rigging a tender. They were then released because the public prosecutor's office saw no risk of them absconding.

Mogherini, an Italian national, was the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and vice-president of the European Commission under Jean-Claude Juncker from 2014 to 2019. She was also Italy's foreign affairs minister until 2014.

“The College of Europe has always applied the highest standards of integrity and honesty and will continue to do so,” Mogherini said, noting that she had "clarified her position" to the investigators.

“The EU Diplomatic Academy has been providing its participants with education and practical experience of the highest level for three years.

"I have confidence in the legal system and trust that they will confirm that the College acted correctly. I will, of course, continue to cooperate fully with the authorities."

In a further statement announcing her resignation, Mogherini said she had decided to resign as rector "in line with the utmost rigour and fairness with which I always carried out my duties".

The investigation focuses on the tendering process for the academy, a training programme for young EU diplomats. The College of Europe is reported to have had prior knowledge of the requirements.

Prior to his resignation amid the scandal, Sannino headed the European Commission's directorate-general for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf States (DG MENA). Previously, he was secretary-general of the European External Action Service (EEAS).

In an internal email to DG MENA staff, Sannino confirmed that he had been questioned as part of the investigation and that he was confident that all matters would be clarified.

Although the events date from before his appointment as director-general of the service, Sannino said it would be "inappropriate" for him to continue in the post.

“The directorate-general must continue to focus on its activities and implement the ambitious programme we have set out,” he said.

Sannino will step down at the end of December and the service's deputy director-general, Michael Karnitschnig, will take over as acting director-general with immediate effect.

The College of Europe is a higher education institution dedicated to European studies and an important training institute for diplomats and European Union staff.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is assisting in the investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).

The investigation centres on the EU Diplomatic Academy project – a nine-month training programme for young diplomats in all member states – which was awarded to the College of Europe by the EEAS following a tender process.

The public prosecutor's office is investigating whether the EEAS had informed the College of Europe in advance about the criteria for the project tender.

“There are strong suspicions that during the tendering procedure for the programme, the rules on fair competition were violated and that confidential information relating to the ongoing tender was shared with one of the candidates participating in the tender,” the EPPO said.

Prior to the searches and investigation, the EPPO requested and obtained the lifting of immunity for several suspects.

The European Commission declined to comment on the case during its daily press briefing earlier this week.

“We can confirm that the police were at the EEAS premises today and that this was part of an ongoing investigation into activities during the previous mandate,” said a spokesperson.

“We cannot say anything more, as an investigation is now under way.”

The Commission also declined to comment on possible individuals involved.

Photo: European Union/Wikimedia. Licensed under Creative Commons