Belgian police launch raids in probe of possible EU money fraud
Illustrative photo: Belgian police (Getty Images)
Belgian police conducted searches at the European External Action Service and the College of Europe in Brussels and Bruges as part of an investigation into possible fraud involving EU funds, Euractiv reports.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, on Tuesday, December 2, Belgian police conducted morning searches in Brussels and Bruges. Among the objects of the search were the buildings of the European External Action Service and the prestigious College of Europe as part of an investigation into possible misuse of EU funds.
According to an eyewitness, about ten plainclothes police officers entered the EEAS headquarters in Brussels at around 7:30 a.m.
The Belgian police, together with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), are investigating possible misuse of EU budget funds in 2021-2022 by the European External Action Service and the College of Europe.
Investigation focuses on suspicions of access to classified information
The investigation focuses on the College's purchase of a building on Spanjaardstraat in Bruges, worth €3.2 million. This is where the participants of the diplomatic academy program live. The terms of the competition required applicants to provide accommodation for students, and the College purchased the building shortly before the EEAS announced the tender, which subsequently provided the institution with €654,000 in funding.
Investigators are looking into allegations that the College's management may have had prior knowledge of the tender conditions, which were supposed to remain confidential. This could have given the institution an advantage over other bidders.
Currently, both institutions—the College of Europe and the Diplomatic Academy—are headed by Federica Mogherini, former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs. She became rector of the College in 2020 and director of the newly established academy in 2022.
During the period under investigation, the EEAS was headed by another socialist and former foreign minister, Josep Borrell.
OLAF has already questioned several people as part of an administrative investigation and then forwarded the materials to the EPPO. There is currently no information that the EU authorities or the Belgian prosecutor's office have reached conclusions or brought formal charges.
EU countries have accused Belgium of excessive demands for the unfreezing of Russian assets.
At the same time, Politico recently published an article stating that Belgium's resistance may have more mundane reasons than fears of retaliation from Russia. The EU suspects that Belgium is appropriating the income from Russian assets.
