Before Borrell, Mogherini was in charge of the EEAS between 2014 and 2019, after which she went on to become rector of the elite College of Europe, which is now at the center of the fraud case.
Stefano Sannino, another central figure in the scandal, was secretary general of the EEAS under Borrell before taking a senior position as head of the European Commission’s Middle East and North Africa department in early 2025.
In the ongoing probe being led by Belgian police and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), Mogherini and Sannino are suspected of having rigged a tender process linked to the establishment of a European Diplomatic Academy at the College of Europe.
“The accusations concern procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy,” the letter states, referring to the claims.
Neither Mogherini nor Sannino have commented on the claims.
Kallas’ letter goes on to outline anti-corruption measures that her team has put in place at the EEAS, including an updated “Anti-Fraud Strategy which is now fully in place and crucial for improved transparency.”
