Former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has abruptly stepped down as rector of the elite College of Europe after European prosecutors filed explosive charges accusing her of fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and leaking confidential information. The stunning fall of one of Brussels’ most recognizable political figures has sent shockwaves through the EU establishment and triggered a full-scale criminal investigation.
Mogherini, who served as the EU’s top diplomat from 2014 to 2019, announced her resignation Thursday, just two days after police raids targeted the College of Europe in Bruges and the headquarters of the European External Action Service (EEAS).
“In keeping with the utmost rigor and integrity with which I have always carried out my duties, I have decided to step down,” Mogherini said in a written statement — a move widely seen as an attempt to contain political fallout as the investigation accelerates.
Prosecutors Reveal Sweeping Charges
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) confirmed that Mogherini, along with the university’s prorector and veteran Italian diplomat Stefano Sannino, has been formally charged following extensive interviews with police.
Investigators allege that senior EU officials and College of Europe administrators manipulated public procurement procedures tied to the creation of the EU Diplomatic Academy, a prestigious nine-month training program launched as a pilot in 2022. The project, designed to mold the next generation of European diplomats, was awarded to the College of Europe after a highly competitive tender — one prosecutors now suspect was rigged.
EPPO says the probe centers on whether Mogherini and others steered contracts, shared confidential internal information, or used their positions to improperly influence the outcome.
Raids, Detentions, and an Expanding Investigation
Tuesday’s raids targeted offices in Bruges and at EEAS headquarters in Brussels, marking one of the most aggressive anti-corruption operations in recent EU history. Authorities detained Mogherini, the prorector, and Sannino for questioning; all have since been released, with prosecutors stating that none posed a flight risk.
The allegations — touching on corruption at the heart of the EU’s diplomatic machinery — are politically explosive. Mogherini was considered one of Brussels’ most prominent international figures, previously responsible for Europe’s global strategy, sanctions policy, and security cooperation.
Her downfall now raises uncomfortable questions about internal oversight, accountability, and corruption risks inside EU institutions.
Did the College of Europe Receive Preferential Treatment?
At the core of the investigation is whether the College of Europe — an institution long viewed as a training ground for future EU elites — received preferential treatment in the tendering process for the Diplomatic Academy.
The Academy’s contract covered the years 2021–2022 and involved extensive cooperation with the EEAS. Prosecutors suspect the tender may have been structured or influenced to ensure the College emerged as the winner.
If confirmed, the scandal could shake the credibility of the EU’s flagship diplomatic training programs and force a reevaluation of procurement transparency across European institutions.
A Crisis for Brussels as Public Trust Wavers
The charges come at a time when the EU is already facing criticism over governance failures, cumbersome bureaucracy, and recent corruption scandals. The Mogherini affair provides fresh ammunition to skeptics who argue Brussels has become increasingly vulnerable to insider influence and political favoritism.
The EPPO says the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges could follow.
For now, Mogherini’s resignation marks a dramatic chapter in a case that threatens to deepen public distrust in the EU’s top leadership circles.