The EU's former foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has been accused of fraud as part of an EU investigation into the misuse of funds, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has said.
The EPPO stated that searches were conducted on Tuesday at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, where Mogherini is now heading, as well as the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, the office she led for five years as the bloc's top diplomat.
The investigation focuses on EU-funded training for junior diplomats, according to the EPPO. In addition to Mogherini, a senior College of Europe staff member and a senior official from the European Commission were detained.
The prosecutor's office indicated that the three were formally notified of allegations that include procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest, and violation of professional secrecy.
They were subsequently released as they were not seen as a flight risk, with their residences also searched.
Belgian law permits an individual to be arrested and released without charge while still remaining a suspect.
The EPPO reported that the inquiry centers on a tender the EEAS awarded to the College of Europe in 2021-2022.
There are strong suspicions of favoritism linked to the tender for a nine-month training course for junior diplomats.
The EPPO investigates alleged crimes against the financial interests of the EU. Their investigation has led to the lifting of immunity for several suspects.
The College of Europe operates independently and is an institution favored by aspiring EU civil servants, receiving partial funding from the EU.
