{"id":79918,"date":"2026-01-21T14:46:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T14:46:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/tusks-colleague-caught-in-corruption-scandal\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T14:57:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T14:57:38","slug":"colega-lui-tusk-prinsa-intr-un-scandal-de-coruptie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pulse-z.eu\/ro\/colega-lui-tusk-prinsa-intr-un-scandal-de-coruptie\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201eColega lui Tusk\u201d prins\u0103 \u00eentr-un scandal de corup\u021bie"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

November 4, a political raid on the offices of the European External Action Service<\/a> (EEAS) and the College of Europe ended with the arrest of three suspects. Among them was the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, and current rector of the College of Europe, Federica Mogherini.<\/p>\n

Belgian police raided the EEAS, the College of Europe<\/a> in Bruges, and Mogherini\u2019s private home in Belgium. The investigation concerns alleged misuse of EU funds linked to the diplomatic academy she has been leading since its establishment in 2022.<\/p>\n

Alongside her, European Commission official Stefano Sannino and a College employee were also detained. All three were questioned over suspected irregularities in public procurement, corruption, and conflicts of interest, though no formal charges have yet been filed.<\/p>\n

Political repercussions in Poland<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The case has caught the attention of Polish politicians, particularly the opposition, who point to Mogherini\u2019s past professional connection with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. During her tenure as EU foreign policy chief (2014\u20132019), Tusk served as President of the European Council, which required close cooperation between the two and frequent joint representation of the EU internationally.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis arrest exposes the weakness of a system that cares more about its image than accountability. EU elites act as if they can do anything because no one actually holds them responsible,\u201d stated<\/a> Confederation MP Bart\u0142omiej Pejo on X, sharing a photo of Tusk and Mogherini from a 2014 press conference announcing their appointments.<\/p>\n

PiS MEP and former Prime Minister Beata Szyd\u0142o, who knew Mogherini from European Council summits, criticized her<\/a> for alleged pro-Russian leanings, which had been a topic of debate when she was first appointed EU foreign policy chief eleven years ago. Szyd\u0142o shared a photo of Mogherini visiting Moscow as Italy\u2019s foreign minister, sarcastically calling her a \u201cwonderful role model.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who is Federica Mogherini?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Born in 1973 in Rome to a filmmaker and a set designer, Mogherini started her political journey in the Italian Communist Party, but her main interest was always diplomacy, especially in the Middle East. She was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 2008 as a member of the center-left Democratic Party (PD).<\/p>\n

In 2014, after Matteo Renzi became Italy\u2019s Prime Minister, Mogherini was appointed Foreign Minister, becoming the third woman in Italian history and the youngest ever to hold the post at 40. Later that year, Renzi promoted her candidacy for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, one of the EU\u2019s top four positions, established under the Lisbon Treaty.<\/p>\n

Despite strong competition from her Polish counterpart Rados\u0142aw Sikorski, Mogherini fit the EU\u2019s \u201cbalancing act,\u201d which required a woman and a Socialist for one of the top roles. Donald Tusk reportedly criticized Sikorski\u2019s loss by noting his only disadvantages were\u2026 not being a woman and not being a Socialist.<\/p>\n

Working closely with Tusk<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mogherini\u2019s nomination sparked resistance in parts of Europe, largely because of her perceived soft stance toward Moscow, which many interpreted as pro-Russian. Among the initial skeptics was then Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskait\u0117.<\/p>\n

By summer 2014, EU leaders faced a choice: either appoint socialist Helle Thorning-Schmidt as European Council President and Sikorski as EU foreign policy chief, or Tusk and Mogherini to these roles. They chose the latter.<\/p>\n

After the press conference announcing their appointments, Germany\u2019s Spiegel called them a \u201cbeautiful European couple,\u201d while Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb predicted they would form a \u201cdynamic duo,\u201d though tensions over Kremlin policy were expected.<\/p>\n

Tusk was not concerned about working with a less experienced colleague. \u201cIt\u2019s natural that different states and politicians have different sensitivities and viewpoints regarding Mogherini\u2019s and my candidacies,\u201d he said<\/a>. \u201cFor me, the most important thing after our appointments is that we jointly develop a policy toward the Ukraine-Russia conflict that is bold but not radical.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mogherini defended her position on Russia, insisting<\/a> it was in line with other European leaders\u2019 views.<\/p>\n

Iran deal, global strategy, EU defense<\/strong><\/h3>\n

During their five years together in Brussels, Tusk and Mogherini managed to reach agreements even on the most controversial issues.<\/p>\n

One of Mogherini\u2019s major achievements was completing negotiations for the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, brokered by the US, China, Russia, Germany, France, and the UK under EU auspices. The deal, however, proved fragile, collapsing in 2018 after the new US administration under Donald Trump withdrew.<\/p>\n

In 2016, Mogherini unveiled a new EU Global Strategy<\/a>, the latest and still officially guiding document for EU foreign policy.<\/p>\n

Another achievement was launching the EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in defense and security in autumn 2017. One obstacle came from then Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz, who agreed to Poland\u2019s participation only after tough negotiations<\/a> alongside Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski.<\/p>\n

Although Mogherini\u2019s political image was less controversial than Tusk\u2019s, she faced criticism, such as during a 2016 press conference after the Brussels attacks when she couldn\u2019t hold back tears. \u201cRight now, terrorist groups around the world are competing to make Federica Mogherini cry first,\u201d quipped<\/a> Janusz Korwin-Mikke.<\/p>\n

Rector in handcuffs \u2013 what\u2019s next?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After leaving office in 2019, Mogherini had no prospects of returning to domestic politics \u2014 even Matteo Renzi, who had once considered her his right hand, distanced himself, claiming she \u201cdid not meet expectations\u201d and her influence on EU policy was \u201cvirtually zero.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herman Van Rompuy, Tusk\u2019s predecessor as European Council President, supported her candidacy for rector of the College of Europe.<\/p>\n

Despite criticism over a late application and lack of educational sector experience, Mogherini was appointed rector in 2020, with her mandate renewed for another five years this year.<\/p>\n

The current corruption probe linked to the new diplomatic academy is the first serious stain on the Italian politician\u2019s record. Will she manage to clear her name and restore her reputation, or is this the beginning of the end for her illustrious career? We will find out in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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