Federica Mogherini resigns from College of Europe

The EU’s former top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, has resigned as rector of the College of Europe.

In a statement, Mogherini said: “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.”

Mogherini and one of the bloc’s most senior diplomats, Stefano Sannino, were taken into custody Tuesday after Belgian police launched raids as part of a fraud probe. Sannino left his role in the Commission on Wednesday.

The police searched the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the College of Europe over alleged corruption in the establishment of a training academy for diplomats.

Mogherini, a former Italian foreign minister, was in charge of the EEAS from 2014 to 2019 and has been at the College of Europe since 2020.