On Thursday 4 December, Federica Mogherini resigned from her position as rector of the College of Europe in Bruges, two days after the European Public Prosecutor’s Office requested that searches be carried out at the College, at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and at the homes of three people questioned, including Ms Mogherini, concerning the controversial awarding of the European Union Diplomatic Academy’s management by the EEAS for the period 2021-2022 (see EUROPE 13764/24).
“In line with the utmost rigour and fairness with which I always carried out my duties, today I decided to resign as rector of the College of Europe and director of the European Union Diplomatic Academy”, she said in a written message to staff and students of the College of Europe, published on the College’s website.
“Sure that the College community, across our three campuses, will continue on the path to innovation and excellence”, the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs said she was “proud” of the work accomplished over five years and “deeply grateful for the trust, esteem and support” shown to her.
Ms Mogherini did not refer to the ongoing legal proceedings. The day before, however, she had said that she “trusted that the correctness of the College’s actions [would be] ascertained”, stating in a press release that she had “full confidence in the justice system”.
On Wednesday, Stefano Sannino, director general of the EEAS at the time of the incident, placed himself on leave for the six months prior to his retirement, according to Euractiv. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)