US EditionBelgian police make 3 arrests after raids on college and EU diplomatic headquarters
- On Tuesday, Belgian federal police raided the European External Action Service in Brussels and the College of Europe in Bruges, detaining three suspects, the European Public Prosecutor's Office said.
- The EPPO says its probe targets the 2021-2022 tender for the European Union Diplomatic Academy, alleging fraud in the award by the European External Action Service to the College of Europe, Belgium.
- Investigators say confidential procurement information may have been shared with a tender participant, while prosecutors list alleged offences including procurement fraud, corruption, and conflict of interest, probing a €3.2 million building purchase and a €654,000 award.
- The raids pile pressure on the College of Europe and its rector, Federica Mogherini, who started a second five-year term this year, while the college declined to comment on Belgian media reports.
- OLAF's administrative inquiries were passed to the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which requested lifting of immunity for several suspects before Tuesday’s searches; authorities say the investigation is ongoing with no formal charges.
183 Articles
183 Articles
A new scandal tarnishes the image of the European Union. Federica Mogherini, who served as head of EU diplomacy between 2014 and 2019, was placed in police custody on Tuesday 2 December in Belgium. She and two other collaborators are being targeted by an investigation for fraudulent use of European funds.
Who is Federica Mogherini, detained in anti-fraud operation?
The Italian politician is detained after a raid at the College of Europe, an institution she has guided since 2020 following a high-profile in Rome and Brussels. Mogherini is well known in diplomatic circles and is extremely well connected.
Searches in EU offices and an elite university in Belgium: it's about fraud and a training program. An ex-head diplomat and a leading EU official are targeted by the authorities.
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