Mogherini resigns as Rector of the College of Europe following fraud probe

Federica Mogherini has resigned as Rector of the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium). Her decision came after she and two others were questioned by the Belgian police amid accusations of procurement fraud.

In a statement issued on 04/12/2025, she said: "In line with the utmost rigour and fairness with which I always carried out my duties, today I decided to resign as Rector of the College of Europe and Director of the European Union Diplomatic Academy."

Mogherini, a former Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative for EU foreign policy, was detained and held on 02/12/2025 as part of an investigation into alleged fraud involving the awarding of a contract to run an EU diplomatic training academy.

The Italian, who was Italy's foreign minister for eight months in 2014, was appointed rector of the College in 2020.

Police also detained for questioning Sandro Sannino, an Italian who is head of the European Commission's directorate-general for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf. He is a former secretary-general of the European External Action Service…