The former number 2 of Joseph Borrell During his time as High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Italian Stefano Sanninowas one of the people arrested this Tuesday by the Belgian Police in the framework of an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for alleged fraud of community funds by the Union’s diplomatic service.
However, the arrest that has caused an earthquake in the Brussels bubble has been that of Federica Mogherinithe Italian socialist who preceded Borrell at the head of community diplomacy (between 2014 and 2019), and who now serves as rector of the prestigious College of Europe in Bruges. The third detainee is another senior official of this institution, which forms the elite of the EU civil service.
The facts investigated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office could constitute fraud in public procurement, corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy.
The corruption scandal occurred in the 2021-2022 period, that is, during Borrell’s mandate. The former High Representative appointed Sannino as secretary general of the Foreign Action Service in December 2020. Previously, he had been Italy’s ambassador to Spain and Andorra and Italy’s ambassador to the EU and also worked in the Commission’s diplomatic service.
Currently, he held the position of director general of the Commission for the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf Countries, under the command of the current head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas.
The identities of those arrested have been revealed by the Belgian press. When asked if Borrell himself is being investigated, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office has responded to this newspaper that it cannot reveal the identity of any of the affected people because it must respect European and national legislation on privacy, as well as the presumption of innocence.
EL ESPAÑOL has tried to obtain the reaction of Borrell, who is currently president of the international relations research center CIDOB, but has not received a response.
For its part, the College of Europe has said in a statement that “will cooperate fully with the authorities in the interest of transparency and respect for the investigation process” and will take “all necessary measures to guarantee the continuity of its activities.”
“The College remains committed to the highest standards of integrity, equity and compliance, both in academic and administrative matters,” the statement concludes.
The scandal came to light early this Tuesday by the records carried out by the Belgian police early in the morning in the suspects’ homesat the headquarters of the College of Europe in Bruges and in the building of the European External Action Service, in the heart of the European quarter of Brussels.
What the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating is the EU Diplomatic Academy project, a nine-month training program for young diplomats from Member States, which was awarded by the European External Action Service, then directed by Borrell, to the College of Europe in the period 2021-2022after a bidding procedure. The project had a budget of one million euros.
The investigation focuses on determining whether the College of Europe and/or its representatives were informed in advance by the Foreign Action Service about the selection criteria of the bidding procedure. And whether they had reason to believe that they would be awarded the project even before the official publication of the tender notice.
“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 related to the ongoing procurement was shared with one of the candidates participating in the tender,” the European Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.
Before the searches, the Prosecutor’s Office requested the lifting of the immunity of several suspects, which was granted.
The facts investigated were initially reported to the EU Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), although the Prosecutor’s Office does not explain who this complaint came from. The investigation, which also has the support of the Belgian investigating judge in West Flanders (Ypres district), continues to clarify the facts and determine whether crimes have been committed.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office – which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes that affect the financial interests of the EU – has recalled that all suspects maintain the presumption of innocence until proven guilty before the competent Belgian courts.