Former European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and two others have been released after having been held for questioning in a fraud investigation, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office said on Wednesday.

The three suspects were notified of the accusations against them, which include procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy, a statement said.

The individuals were released, as they are not considered a flight risk.

On Tuesday, Belgian police carried out searches at the EU’s diplomatic service in Brussels and at an elite university in Bruges.

The suspects’ homes were also searched.

The European External Action Service and the College of Europe are at the centre of an investigation into suspected fraud related to a training course for diplomats funded by EU money.

Mr Mogherini, a former Italian foreign minister, currently serves as the director of the European Union Diplomatic Academy and the rector of the College of Europe. She previously served as the head of EEAS.

The two other suspects are a former EEAS secretary general and the College of Europe’s deputy director, according to Belgian media reports.

According to EPPO, the College of Europe was tasked by EEAS with implementing a training programme for junior EU diplomats following a tendering process.

The ongoing investigation focuses on whether the university or its representatives were aware of the selection criteria in advance or knew they would be awarded the project before the tender notice was published, EPPO said.

The College of Europe had announced that it would cooperate fully with the authorities.

EPPO said on Tuesday that “there are strong suspicions” that financial rules were breached and that confidential information was leaked.

It stressed that all persons involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

(dpa/NAN)