Federica Mogherini, the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission, has been detained by Italian financial police as part of a widening investigation into alleged misuse of EU funds, sending shockwaves through Brussels and reigniting scrutiny over transparency in EU institutions.
The probe—centred on a network of educational, research and consultancy projects funded through various EU external-action instruments—has been under way for months, according to officials familiar with the matter. Mogherini, who has led the College of Europe in Bruges and Natolin since leaving the Commission in 2019, was reportedly taken in for questioning on Wednesday morning in Rome. Authorities have not confirmed whether formal charges will follow, but investigators said her detention was authorised to prevent “possible interference with ongoing evidence collection”.
Her legal team described the move as “extraordinary and unjustified”, insisting the former diplomat had “always acted with complete respect for EU governance rules” and was “fully prepared to cooperate”.
The case has already rattled EU leadership circles. Mogherini—one of the bloc’s most recognisable foreign-policy figures—was closely involved in the Iran nuclear deal, EU-Africa partnerships and the bloc’s strategic autonomy agenda. Her reputation for consensus-building and technocratic competence had made her a fixture at international summits even after her Brussels mandate ended.
A deepening probe into EU spending
The investigation, led by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza in coordination with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), is understood to focus on contract allocation and expenditure linked to foreign-policy capacity-building programmes and academic partnerships. These include initiatives designed to train diplomats, support think-tank research and expand EU influence in regions such as the Western Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa.
Prosecutors are examining whether EU-funded grants were channelled to organisations with undisclosed conflicts of interest, inflated consultancy fees or improperly awarded tender processes. According to people close to the inquiry, the alleged irregularities may have spanned several years and involved multiple partner institutions across member states.
EPPO officials have so far refused to comment, but one EU official acknowledged the “significant political sensitivity” of the case, given the prominence of the individuals and institutions under scrutiny. Brussels has been under growing pressure to address weaknesses in its anti-fraud architecture, particularly after recent procurement scandals in the Parliament and Commission.
Political reverberations in Brussels
The detention has already prompted calls for greater oversight in EU spending governance. Members of the European Parliament from both the centre-right and the Greens said the investigation highlighted “chronic weaknesses” in the bloc’s monitoring of external-action budgets, many of which operate through complex networks of subcontractors and academic institutions.
While there is no public evidence linking Mogherini personally to fraudulent activity, her involvement in programmes aimed at strengthening EU diplomacy makes her a central figure for investigators seeking to understand how funds were distributed and who approved specific projects.
Political analysts warn that the case could deepen Eurosceptic sentiment in several member states, coming at a time when the bloc is under pressure over migration policy, budget negotiations and the increasing role of the EU in security and defence matters. One former EU official described the situation as “a perfect storm for those who want to portray Brussels as unaccountable”.
A test for EU credibility
For the Commission, the case poses a broader credibility challenge. Ursula von der Leyen’s administration has championed anti-corruption initiatives, including the strengthening of EPPO, and has repeatedly emphasised the need for robust oversight of EU funds. Critics argue, however, that enforcement remains uneven and that political networks have too often shielded senior officials from scrutiny.
Mogherini’s position at the College of Europe—a prestigious training ground for EU civil servants—adds further complexity. Some fear the investigation may undermine confidence in academic institutions that provide policy expertise and diplomatic training to member states.
For now, Brussels officials are urging caution. “This is a judicial matter, and we must allow investigators to do their work,” one senior EU diplomat said. “But there is no denying the reputational risk.”
As the inquiry expands, more details are expected to emerge about the specific contracts and individuals involved.
