Former EU leader lined up to head College of Europe amid criticism

Selection of Federica Mogherini was in line with statutes, insists rector she would replace

Former EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Federica Mogherini has been lined up to become the next rector of the College of Europe, a postgraduate institute of European studies, despite complaints from alumni and other people with ties to the institute.

The college announced on 15 May that its academic council had proposed Mogherini for the role the previous day. The former Italian minister for foreign affairs, who held her EU role from 2014 to 2019, was nominated by a search committee in January, the college said, after interviews with five other candidates failed to convince a separate selection committee that any were suitable.