EU foreign policy chief unveils whistleblower policy amid fraud investigation

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas announced a new whistleblower policy on December 12, as a response to an escalating fraud investigation linked to her office. 

The announcement came during a town hall meeting with staff of the European External Action Service (EEAS), which has been embroiled in a scandal involving several high-ranking official, Caliber.Az reports via Euroactiv. 

At the meeting, Kallas acknowledged the far-reaching impact of the fraud probe, which centers on her predecessor, Federica Mogherini, and the former EEAS Secretary-General, Stefano Sannino. Both are suspected of exchanging confidential information regarding an EU-funded contract for the College of Europe, a position Mogherini later took up after leaving the EEAS. Their residences were searched in early December, along with the EEAS offices in Brussels.

“The scandals have obviously rocked the house,” Kallas told staff, according to one participant.

In response to the growing crisis, EEAS Secretary-General Belén Martínez Carbonell admitted to the service's shortcomings, stating: “I am the first to admit that we need to be much better prepared for these kinds of things, and we will.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, Kallas’ remarks were brief, lasting only 30 minutes. She answered just three questions before leaving to join a “coalition of the willing” leaders’ videoconference, a move that left some staff members frustrated. One participant described the session as “anticlimactic,” while another stated that some crucial points “would not have been mentioned at all” if not for staff pressure.

Kallas also confirmed that the EEAS would adopt a new whistleblower policy after an employee raised concerns.

“She said they are reflecting on new proposals and that measures will be adopted,” Sebastiani added.

While reiterating that the EEAS is fully cooperating with authorities and respecting the presumption of innocence, Kallas stated her intention to convene another internal meeting before the summer.

By Sabina Mammadli