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November 4, a political raid on the offices of the European External Action Service (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.

Belgian police raided the EEAS, the College of Europe in Bruges, and Mogherini’s 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.

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.

Political repercussions in Poland

The case has caught the attention of Polish politicians, particularly the opposition, who point to Mogherini’s past professional connection with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. During her tenure as EU foreign policy chief (2014–2019), Tusk served as President of the European Council, which required close cooperation between the two and frequent joint representation of the EU internationally.

“This 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,” stated Confederation MP Bartłomiej Pejo on X, sharing a photo of Tusk and Mogherini from a 2014 press conference announcing their appointments.

PiS MEP and former Prime Minister Beata Szydło, who knew Mogherini from European Council summits, criticized her for alleged pro-Russian leanings, which had been a topic of debate when she was first appointed EU foreign policy chief eleven years ago. Szydło shared a photo of Mogherini visiting Moscow as Italy’s foreign minister, sarcastically calling her a “wonderful role model.”

Who is Federica Mogherini?

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).

In 2014, after Matteo Renzi became Italy’s 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’s top four positions, established under the Lisbon Treaty.

Despite strong competition from her Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski, Mogherini fit the EU’s “balancing act,” which required a woman and a Socialist for one of the top roles. Donald Tusk reportedly criticized Sikorski’s loss by noting his only disadvantages were… not being a woman and not being a Socialist.

Working closely with Tusk

Mogherini’s 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 Grybauskaitė.

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.

After the press conference announcing their appointments, Germany’s Spiegel called them a “beautiful European couple,” while Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb predicted they would form a “dynamic duo,” though tensions over Kremlin policy were expected.

Tusk was not concerned about working with a less experienced colleague. “It’s natural that different states and politicians have different sensitivities and viewpoints regarding Mogherini’s and my candidacies,” he said. “For 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.”

Mogherini defended her position on Russia, insisting it was in line with other European leaders’ views.

Iran deal, global strategy, EU defence

During their five years together in Brussels, Tusk and Mogherini managed to reach agreements even on the most controversial issues.

One of Mogherini’s 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.

In 2016, Mogherini unveiled a new EU Global Strategy, the latest and still officially guiding document for EU foreign policy.

Another achievement was launching the EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in defence and security in autumn 2017. One obstacle came from then Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, who agreed to Poland’s participation only after tough negotiations alongside Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski.

Although Mogherini’s political image was less controversial than Tusk’s, she faced criticism, such as during a 2016 press conference after the Brussels attacks when she couldn’t hold back tears. “Right now, terrorist groups around the world are competing to make Federica Mogherini cry first,” quipped Janusz Korwin-Mikke.

Rector in handcuffs – what’s next?

After leaving office in 2019, Mogherini had no prospects of returning to domestic politics — even Matteo Renzi, who had once considered her his right hand, distanced himself, claiming she “did not meet expectations” and her influence on EU policy was “virtually zero.”

Herman Van Rompuy, Tusk’s predecessor as European Council President, supported her candidacy for rector of the College of Europe.

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.

The current corruption probe linked to the new diplomatic academy is the first serious stain on the Italian politician’s 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.

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