Federica Mogherini has resigned as rector of the College of Europe in Bruges after being charged with fraud in a Belgian corruption investigation.
She announced her decision in an email to staff and students, seen by ANSA, saying she wished to act with “rigour and correctness” in light of the probe. In a statement on the College’s site, Mogherini stated:
“Regarding the procedure to establish the European Union Diplomatic Academy, yesterday I clarified my position with the investigators acting on behalf of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In its long tradition, the College has always applied and will continue to apply the highest standards of integrity and fairness.
For three years now, the European Union Diplomatic Academy has been offering the highest quality of teaching and practice to its participants.
I have full confidence in the justice system, and I trust that the correctness of the College’s actions will be ascertained.
I will obviously continue to offer my full collaboration to the authorities.”
She also stepped down as director of the EU’s Diplomatic Academy.
Sharing of confidential procurement information
Mogherini was one of three people questioned and later released on Tuesday. The investigation concerns the EU Diplomatic Academy project. The College of Europe won the contract in 2021–22 after a tender run by the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Prosecutors suspect that confidential procurement information was shared with one of the bidders during the process.
Another suspect, Stefano Sannino, resigned on Tuesday as the European Commission’s Director-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf. He is the former EEAS Secretary General and a former Italian ambassador to Spain.
The third person under investigation is Cesare Zegretti, an Italian-Belgian national and co-director of the college’s Executive Education, Training and Projects Office since January 2022.
Mogherini served as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2019. She was Italy’s foreign minister in 2014.
