World

Belgian police raid EU diplomatic service over fraud

By AAP Newswire

Dec 3, 2025

European External Action Service building — Police have searched the headquarters of the European External Action Service in Brussels. -AP

Belgian police have raided the European Union's diplomatic service in Brussels and a training college, the College of Europe in Bruges, as part of a probe into suspected fraud, the European Public Prosecutor's Office says.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Three suspects were detained in the investigation related to EU-funded training for junior diplomats, the prosecutors said.

Belgian broadcaster VRT said Federica Mogherini, the EU's former top diplomat and current head of the College of Europe, was among them.

The EU prosecutors said they could not disclose identities.

Raids were conducted at the prosecutors' request at several buildings of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the College of Europe and the houses of suspects on Tuesday.

The college is an institute where university graduates from EU member states can prepare for possible EU careers.

Prosecutors said they had "strong suspicions" of fraud in a tender that granted a nine-month training program for junior diplomats across member states in 2021-22.

The tender was held by the diplomatic service and won by the college.

The college declined to comment on the report.

The EEAS was not immediately available for comment.

European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper confirmed the raid on the EAAS building during a press conference but declined to give details of the investigation or the suspects.

with AP