Power Protected, Democracy Betrayed in the EU
A Systemic Failure, Not an Isolated Case
The ongoing corruption investigation involving former EU high representative Federica Mogherini — now accused of procurement fraud, conflict of interest and misuse of EU funds connected to the establishment of the Diplomatic Academy — is yet another confirmation that EU institutions remain vulnerable to privilege, insider practices and weak accountability. Once again, citizens are confronted with the fact that even at the highest levels of EU governance, safeguards against conflicts of interest and misuse of public funds are insufficient.
This case does not emerge in a vacuum. It follows a series of scandals that underline a deeper transparency crisis within the European Union. The continued refusal by conservative and far-right forces — including the European People’s Party (EPP) — to establish a genuinely independent EU ethics body has created the conditions for impunity to persist. Oversight mechanisms without independence and enforcement cannot prevent corruption.
Restoring Accountability Requires Political Courage
The Party of the European Left considers this affair a structural warning sign – not as an isolated aberration, but as a structural symptom of a wider “transparency crisis” within the EU — one that stems from the refusal to subject EU institutions to democratic control and enforceable ethical standards. Without binding rules, democratic control and effective sanctions, abuses of power will continue to reappear in different forms.
Restoring trust requires urgent action. This includes the creation of a fully independent EU ethics authority with investigative and sanctioning powers; full transparency in procurement, appointments and contracts; an end to revolving-door practices and patronage networks; and a clear commitment to placing people’s rights and public interest above elite privileges and corporate influence.
This scandal must mark a turning point. If the European Union is to overcome its legitimacy crisis, democratic accountability must be strengthened not in words, but through concrete institutional change.