There would be Federica Mogheriniformer High Representative of the EU and current director of the College of Europe, among the three people arrested todayTuesday 2 December, during the operation carried out by the Belgian police, at the request of the European Anti-Fraud Prosecutor’s Office (Eppo) in Brussels, for suspected fraud against the EU relating to a tender launched by the European External Action Service (EEAS). The Belgian newspaper Le Soir writes this, citing reliable sources who confirm the news, first reported by the Echo. Again according to information reported by Le Soir, the ambassador was also arrested Stefano Sanninoformer secretary general of the EEAS and former permanent representative of Italy to the EU, and an administrator of the College of Europe in Bruges.
In Belgium a person suspected of having committed a crime can be deprived of liberty for 48 hoursduring which she may be questioned (she may request the assistance of a lawyer). The procedure is under the control of the investigating judge, who can extend the period of detention in some cases.
The investigation
The Federal Police of West Flanders conducted several searches today: at the College of Europe in Bruges, in the European External Action Service in Brussels and in the homes of the suspects. At the center of the investigation is the project for the Diplomatic Academy of the European Uniona nine-month training program for young diplomats in Member States, awarded by the European External Action Service to the College of Europe in Belgium, in the period 2021-2022, through a competitive tender.
The investigation, explains the EPP, aims to ascertain whether the College of Europe and/or its representatives had been informed in advance of the selection criteria of the tender procedure and had “sufficient reasons” to believe that they would be awarded the execution of the project, before the official publication of the tender notice by the EEAS. There are “strong suspicions” that, during the tender process for the programme, Article 169 of the Financial Regulation on fair competition was violated and that confidential information relating to the ongoing procurement was shared with one of the tendering candidates. Before the searches, the EPPO requested the revocation of the immunity of several suspectswhich was granted.
The ‘broadside’ of Moscow
On the matter came “Any international problem is an opportunity for Brussels to profit from it. From the Covid-19 pandemic to Ukraine. In the meantime it turns a blind eye to its own corruption, but continues to lecture others.” This was stated by the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, commenting to the Tass agency on the news of the arrest of Federica Mogherini for suspected fraud against the EU relating to a tender launched by the EEAS.