Belgian police arrest 3 after raids EU diplomatic offices and college in fraud investigation

Belgian authorities have arrested three individuals following raids on European Union diplomatic offices in Brussels and the College of Europe in Bruges, as part of a widening fraud investigation, according to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

The operation, carried out on Tuesday, involved searches at the headquarters of the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels—the diplomatic arm of the EU—and multiple buildings at the prestigious College of Europe in Bruges, a postgraduate institution known for training future EU officials and diplomats.

Investigators cited “strong suspicions” regarding potential procurement fraud related to a 2021-2022 training program at the EU Diplomatic Academy, which was established to prepare junior diplomats for service. The EEAS, until recently led by Josep Borrell, who served as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, is at the center of the investigation.

“They could constitute procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy,” the prosecutor’s office stated in its release. The EPPO also confirmed it has requested the lifting of immunity for several suspects involved in the case, a necessary step when investigating EU officials who typically enjoy legal protections related to their positions.

While European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper acknowledged the raid during a press conference, she declined to provide further details about the investigation or identify the suspects.

Belgian media outlets Le Soir and L’Echo have reported that among those detained is Federica Mogherini, the current rector of the College of Europe and herself a former head of the EEAS from 2014 to 2019. Mogherini previously served as Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs before taking on her EU role. Neither the federal police nor the prosecutor’s office would comment on these reports.

The College of Europe, founded in 1949, has long been considered an elite institution that has trained generations of European officials and diplomats. Its connection to this investigation raises questions about the relationships between EU institutions and their educational partners.

This investigation comes at a sensitive time for EU institutions, which have faced increased scrutiny over transparency and procurement practices in recent years. The European Union manages billions of euros in contracts annually, and ensuring proper oversight of these funds has been an ongoing challenge.

The EPPO, which began operations in 2021, was specifically created to investigate and prosecute crimes against the EU’s financial interests, including fraud, corruption, and serious cross-border VAT fraud. As an independent body, it has authority to conduct investigations across participating EU member states.

The case highlights the growing role of the EPPO in combating financial crimes within EU institutions. Unlike previous arrangements where national authorities had primary responsibility for investigating EU-related fraud, the EPPO can directly pursue cases across borders.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to “clarify the facts and assess whether any criminal offenses have occurred,” according to the prosecutor’s statement. If charges are brought forward, this could become one of the most high-profile corruption cases involving EU institutions in recent years.

Neither the College of Europe nor representatives for Mogherini have issued public statements regarding the raids or arrests as of the time of reporting.