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Belgian cops raid EU foreign service in fraud probe
Politico.eu and 2 more
- A high-profile EU fraud probe targets the EEAS, the College of Europe, and affiliated training programs, signaling broad scrutiny of EU-funded junior-diplomat initiatives in Brussels and Bruges.
- EU prosecutors say there are strong suspicions that fair-competition rules were breached when confidential procurement information was shared with a tender candidate, widening concerns over integrity.
- The investigation centers on a nine-month training program for junior diplomats and its 2021–2022 EEAS tender, with potential procurement fraud, corruption, and secrecy violations under scrutiny.
- The raid took place at the EEAS administrative office building at Rue d'Arlon 62, clarifying that the main HQ was not the site of the searches.
- Belgian authorities are widening scrutiny to EU-funded junior-diplomat training beyond the Diplomatic Academy, implying broader oversight of EU training programs.
- The EPPO-led operation received clearance from Belgian judicial and police authorities, illustrating cross-agency collaboration in EU-wide probes.
- The operation underscores EU concerns about integrity in training programs that prepare junior diplomats for EU foreign service roles.
- Private residences were included in the searches, signaling the investigation's wide reach beyond institutional settings.
- The incident highlights ongoing EU vigilance over how training contracts and procurement data are handled within its foreign service ecosystem.
- The investigation ties EU-funded training for junior diplomats to possible breaches of transparency and accountability in major EU institutions.
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