Kathimerini Greece Newsroom
Former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, European Commission secretary-general Stefano Sannino, and a senior College of Europe official were released Wednesday morning, a day after their surprise arrests in a fraud investigation that has gripped Brussels.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office detained the three on Tuesday as part of a probe into suspected corruption and fraud tied to a 2021–2022 decision by the European External Action Service. Investigators are looking into how the EU’s diplomatic academy program ended up being awarded to the College of Europe, the postgraduate institution Mogherini now leads as rector.
The arrests stunned EU circles, marking the latest scandal to shake confidence in the bloc’s institutions. All three officials are facing allegations that include corruption and fraud, and while they were released, the case is still very much active. Brussels insiders say the investigation could expand.
A look back at Brussels’ bruising moments
For long-timers in the EU bubble, the news stirred old memories of previous crises that exposed weaknesses in the Union’s governance.
1999 — A Commission collapse:
The entire European Commission walked out after an inquiry uncovered mismanagement and blatant favoritism. Then-Commission President Jacques Santer resigned under pressure when it emerged that Commissioner Édith Cresson had steered EU-funded work to a friend.
2011 — Cash-for-influence scandal:
Undercover reporters posing as lobbyists offered money to MEPs in exchange for pushing certain amendments. Four lawmakers came under investigation, and two, Austria’s Ernst Strasser and Slovenia’s Zoran Thaler, were later jailed.
2021 — The “Pfizergate” texts:
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faced scrutiny over private message exchanges with Pfizer’s CEO during negotiations for a massive vaccine purchase. The texts vanished, prompting the EU’s top court to rule she breached transparency rules. She ultimately held onto her post.
2022 — Qatargate:
Belgian police arrested European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kaili after large amounts of cash were found in her home and other locations. Kaili and her partner have denied wrongdoing, but the case badly damaged the Parliament’s reputation.
A familiar headache for Brussels
The case involving Mogherini and Sannino lands at a sensitive moment for EU institutions already battling public skepticism. Though many details remain unclear, the investigation has reopened long-standing questions about oversight, transparency, and whether the EU has learned from earlier scandals.
And in Brussels, where whispers travel faster than policy papers, there’s little doubt this saga will dominate conversations for quite some time.
