After hours of interrogation, Mogherini, Sannino and Zegretti were released “unconditionally”. The charges against them concern procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and breach of secrecy. A complaint to the European Anti-Fraud Office kicked off the investigation
Federica Mogherini, Stefano Sannino and Cesare Zegretti were released during the night because there is “no risk of escape”. But in the context of the alleged misuse of funds for the training of European diplomats, the accusations remain and concern procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and breach of secrecy. The former EU High Representative and current rector of the College of Europe, Mogherini, ambassador Sannino and the director of the College of Europe, Zegretti, are formally under investigation.
The release
After being interrogated by the Belgian federal police, Mogherini, Sannino and Zegretti were released around 1 am. The communication came directly from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (Eppo): «They were all released without any conditions, as they are not considered a flight risk». But the charges remain, with the EPP explaining: «After being questioned by the Belgian Federal Judicial Police (FGP West-Vlaanderen), the three individuals were formally informed of the charges against them. The charges concern fraud and corruption in procurement, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy.” And while the scandal has engulfed the buildings of Brussels, with the EU Commission still keeping its mouth shut, on the other hand the European Public Prosecutor’s Office wanted to underline that “all people are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Belgian courts”.
The investigation
The investigation was kicked off, as announced by the EPP, by a complaint presented to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) which was then forwarded to the European Prosecutor’s Office. The three were therefore arrested on Tuesday due to “strong suspicions” regarding the alleged irregularities in the tender for the new European Diplomatic Academy: the program had been assigned in 2022 to the College of Europe by Seae, the European External Action Service of which Sannino is the former secretary general. The suspicion is that the College may have won the tender in an irregular manner: «There are strong suspicions that, during the tender procedure for the programme, article 169 of the Financial Regulation relating to fair competition was violated and that confidential information relating to the ongoing tender was shared with one of the candidates participating in the race” the Eppo announced yesterday. And it is in this context that the raid by the police in Brussels took place yesterday at 7.30 in the morning.
«360 degree clarification provided»
Mogherini’s interrogation took place in a “serene” atmosphere. His lawyer, Mariapaola Cherchi, provides more details on what happened in the last few hours: «The interrogation was a long marathon, from 2pm until midnight. 360-degree clarifications were provided, in a more than exhaustive way, as legitimately requested by the investigators.” And he added: «Mogherini was released unconditionally. She asked several times if she should limit her movements, but was always told that there was no restriction, because there was no reason to. This should help calm the fuss that has so far been raised mainly by the media.”
The situation of Sannino
Ambassador Sannino would also be the subject of an administrative check by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF): according to sources close to the investigation, the suspicion is that Sannino, while he was general secretary of the EEAS, may have favored candidates in the assignment of high-level roles, not respecting internal procedures. The investigators will be able to access the electronic devices and continue with the searches: the community executive has given the green light to the revocation of immunity on assets and the immunity of offices would be temporarily suspended for the EEAS.
