Former EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and two others have been formally accused of procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy.
The three individuals were detained on Tuesday as part of an EU fraud investigation and have now been released while the investigation is ongoing, the European Public Prosecutor's Office said on Wednesday.
It added that they were not considered a flight risk.
EPPO referred to the other two suspects as a senior staff member at the College of Europe in Bruges and a senior official from the European Commission.
Three sources told Reuters that one of the detainees was senior EU diplomat Stefano Sannino.
Neither Mogherini nor Sannino could be reached for comment.
"All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Belgian courts of law," EPPO also said.
The investigation focuses on allegations of favouritism in awarding a training programme for future EU diplomats.
The iniative, run by the European External Action Service (EEAS), was assigned to the College of Europe, an elite institution that has trained Europe’s civil service since 1949.
Belgian police carried out searches at both the EEAS offices in Brussels and the College of Europe campus in Bruges as part of the inquiry.
Mogherini, who led the EU’s diplomatic service from 2014 to 2019, currently serves as rector of the College of Europe. Sannino, formerly EEAS secretary general, now holds the role of director general for the Commission’s Middle East, North Africa, and Gulf department.
Both the EEAS and the College of Europe have pledged full cooperation with authorities, reaffirming their commitment to transparency and integrity.
At least 11 Afghan nationals have died were killed and nine others injured after a pickup truck collided with an oil tanker in Pakistan late on Sunday...
Senior Turkish officials have met with their Syrian counterparts in Damascus on Monday ahead of a deadline for Kurdish-led forces in the Country's nor...
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised the release of photographs linking former President Bill Clinton to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey...
A massive Russian strike on Ukraine killed at least three people, including a four-year-old, as air raids and power outages hit cities nationwide. Pre...
Negotiations conducted with the United States and European nations, aimed at ending the nearly four-year war with Russia, were "very close to a real r...
At least 11 Afghan nationals have died were killed and nine others injured after a pickup truck collided with an oil tanker in Pakistan late on Sunday.
Senior Turkish officials have met with their Syrian counterparts in Damascus on Monday ahead of a deadline for Kurdish-led forces in the Country's northeast to be integrated into the Syrian Armed forces.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised the release of photographs linking former President Bill Clinton to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the move a political distraction by Democrats.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 23rd of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty gaming franchise, has died in a car crash involving a Ferrari crash on Monday in Los Angeles, United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is monitoring recent Iranian military exercises and will raise the issue with U.S. President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington next week.
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
The European Union stands at a crossroads: to receive new members and accelerate the enlargement process in order to strengthen its role in the international arena, or to risk strategic stagnation by delaying expansion in favor of internal reform.
Paramount has reaffirmed its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, offering $30 per share in cash and backing the proposal with a $40.4 billion personal equity guarantee from billionaire Larry Ellison, despite the target company’s board urging shareholders to reject the offer.
At least 11 Afghan nationals have died were killed and nine others injured after a pickup truck collided with an oil tanker in Pakistan late on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised the release of photographs linking former President Bill Clinton to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the move a political distraction by Democrats.
A massive Russian strike on Ukraine killed at least three people, including a four-year-old, as air raids and power outages hit cities nationwide. President Zelenskyy condemned the attack, urging greater pressure on Moscow.
Negotiations conducted with the United States and European nations, aimed at ending the nearly four-year war with Russia, were "very close to a real result," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 23rd of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment