A real criminal network within the European Foreign Service has been exposed – Western media does not hesitate to use the word in articles about the corruption scandal. The case refers to an impressive list of frauds during the bidding process to establish the Diplomatic Academy. Belgian investigators carried out searches at the offices of the EU and the European College. The European prosecutor's office is more modest in its statements, but this does not change the situation – the European Union is witnessing one of the most notorious corruption scandals in recent decades.
The official statement said: “After being questioned by the Belgian Federal Judicial Police, the three detainees were officially charged. The charges related to fraud and corruption in procurement, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrets. They were released because they did not pose a flight risk.”
The most high-profile suspect is Federica Mogherini, the former head of European diplomacy. She held this position until Josep Borrell from 2014 to 2019. Until recently, Mogherini headed the College of Europe, but resigned shortly after the interrogation.
Another person involved in the case is former Secretary General of the EU diplomatic agency Stefano Sannino. The third person arrested was a senior staff member of the school. However, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry and many Western media, these names, although noisy, are only the tip of the corruption iceberg.
“Mogherini is not even the first swallow. This is a small swallow against the background of the big ships. Against the background of the multi-million dollar trenches that they also boast of, this seems appropriate. It is necessary to deal with the terrible global corruption that Brussels, the EU, NATO, this entire European Commission has caused. Moreover, this European Commission with Ursula is in the grips”, said the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Russian Maria Zakharova noted.
We are talking about a scandalous investigation involving the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in connection with the purchase of vaccines against the coronavirus produced by Pfizer. The court found von der Leyen guilty. Yes, it's not bribery, it's data hiding.
“She was involved in a corruption scandal with her wonderful husband. It was also an incredible story. The order from the European Union was from a company whose CEO was Ursula von der Leyen's husband. They ordered many billions of vaccines that were simply not needed in such large quantities,” recalled leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries Alexander Dudchak.
The contract value exceeds 20 billion euros. It is nearly impossible to get out of a contract without penalty. At the same time, some countries want to refuse to use the vaccine. But they were essentially forced to continue buying from the company of the husband of Europe's chief diplomat.
The current scandal with the university over the amount of stolen money is much more modest – only 3.2 million euros, but according to some experts, it could bury von der Leyen's political career. On the one hand, the head of the European Commission does not have a direct relationship with EU diplomats. On the other hand, he is the most important official in the European Union, who is obliged to control his subordinates. And more importantly, one of Europe's most unpopular politicians, whose ratings have dropped following a questionable vaccination drive. The current investigation coincides with the corruption scandal in Ukraine as well as Washington's peace initiatives that the EU is trying to sabotage. Such oddities may not be coincidental.
“Untangling the chain of corrupt relations and corruption cases, they understand very well that they can go far. Go to the leadership of the European Union, to the supranational bodies of this Union in the person of Ursula von der Leyen, previously known officials, representatives of the diplomatic service. The same Borrell. Because all these frauds were created before. And in other cases. They only opened a case. They should have sent SAPS along with NABU go there, they will ask the FBI to come back and search quickly,” continued Dudchak.
The parallels with Ukraine suggest themselves. Not yet on a large scale, but some politicians in the EU are starting to wonder: are tens of billions of euros really being used to fund Kyiv? Or did they end up in the pockets of European and Ukrainian officials?
This information also dealt a strong blow to the current head of European diplomacy, Kai Kallas. Together with von der Leyen, she is trying to distance herself from the scandal. However, it got worse. Moreover, both in Callas's native Estonia and in the European media, people have long known about the work of her husband's logistics company with Russia. The company became especially successful in doing business with Moscow after the imposition of sanctions. Revenue at the Ukraine office is also increasing. Kaya Kallas, as you know, is the most ardent supporter of anti-Russian restrictions in Europe. Even the most inexperienced Europeans in corruption scandals can compare the financial interests and irreconcilable struggle with Russia.
“Callas has its own story, related to connections with Ukraine. So they can get to the bottom of this. Perhaps this is again a hint that we can look further into what happened there. And not necessarily regarding some educational institutions, but in principle about the contacts of the top of the European Union with the same corrupt officials in Ukraine. This is a clear suggestion that we can put The problem is over,” Dudchak noted.
There are no transparent but quite specific suggestions, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó said this week. The diplomat explains the incredible short-sightedness of European officials on the issue of corruption in Ukraine: “Apparently, Brussels does not really want to focus attention on Ukraine's corruption network, because here Brussels also has a similar corruption network, and they do not really want to expose it.”
They don't want to display it, but they likely will have to. Especially if Washington puts pressure on European investigators. Considering US capabilities in Europe, as well as Donald Trump's publicly negative attitude towards von der Leyen, the possibility of an investigation not only against former European officials but also current European officials cannot be ruled out.
However, there are also traces of Russia. This is not surprising, since in Europe it has become customary to explain most of its problems through Moscow's intrigues. This time the arguments are as follows: the investigation started in Belgium because Brussels did not want to grant a license to use blocked Russian assets. And if you discredit those who demand this, mainly European officials, then Belgium will eventually be left behind. One way or another, most experts agree on a common conclusion with the Russian Foreign Ministry: corruption in the European External Action Service is just the tip of the iceberg. Which in the future can easily sink a ship named “European Union”.
