"The European Union's former top diplomat has been detained as part of an anti-fraud probe relating to a diplomatic training programme, according to Belgian media reports. Federica Mogherini, who served as EU foreign policy chief from 2014 to 2019 and now leads the College of Europe graduate school that teaches a training programme for junior EU diplomats, was taken into custody by Belgian police in Brussels on Tuesday, reported Belgian broadcaster VRT, the news agency Belga, and the news site Euractiv."
"The arrest came amid police raids at the College of Europe's campus in Bruges, Belgium, and the Brussels premises of the European External Action Service the EU's diplomatic wing. European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) announced the searches and said three suspects, which it did not name, were taken into custody. It said the investigation involved suspected fraud related to EU-funded training for junior diplomats."
"At issue, according to the EPPO, is a nine-month training programme for junior diplomats across EU states, known as the European Union Diplomatic Academy. The programme was awarded by the EEAS to the College of Europe in Belgium in the period 2021-2022, and the probe focuses on whether the tender process was skewed to favour the school. Mogherini is the head of both the College of Europe and of the EU Diplomatic Academy."
Federica Mogherini was taken into custody by Belgian police in Brussels as part of an anti-fraud probe into a diplomatic training programme. Police conducted raids at the College of Europe's campus in Bruges and at the Brussels premises of the European External Action Service. The European Public Prosecutor's Office said three suspects were detained and that the investigation involves suspected fraud linked to EU-funded training for junior diplomats. Stefano Sannino, a former EEAS secretary-general, was also detained. The probe focuses on a nine-month European Union Diplomatic Academy programme awarded to the College of Europe for 2021-2022 and on whether the tender process was skewed and confidential procurement information was shared with a candidate.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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