EU Confidential Notes on a scandal — will a fraud probe upend the EU?
Dec 5, 2025
Zoya Sheftalovich, POLITICO's new chief EU correspondent, discusses a shocking fraud probe into senior EU diplomats and its implications for Ursula von der Leyen. The panel, featuring defense editor Jan Cienski and trade expert Doug Busvine, evaluates von der Leyen’s first year, highlighting the Commission's shift towards defense amid the Ukraine war and critiques of the US-EU tariff deal. Senior climate correspondent Karl Mathiesen adds insights on the EU's climate performance amid global challenges. Together, they assess the risks to public trust in EU institutions.
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Scandal Shakes Brussels Trust
- The dawn raids into the EU diplomatic academy probe shocked Brussels and exposed institutional vulnerability.
- High-profile detentions raised questions about accountability and public faith in EU institutions.
High-Profile Raids And Seizures
- Federica Mogherini and Stefano Sanino were publicly detained and later released during raids tied to the College of Europe tender.
- Authorities seized phones and laptops as the European Public Prosecutor's Office opened a fraud probe.
Tender Tip-Off Is The Core Allegation
- The probe centers on alleged insider tipping before a tender awarding the College of Europe a diplomatic academy contract.
- The core allegation is favoritism rather than direct bribery, but it involves EU taxpayer money and procurement rules.