Former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini, Ambassador Stefano Sannino, and Stefano Zegretti, a senior official at the College of Europe, were released overnight following questioning by Belgian federal judicial police in West Flanders. The three are under investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office for alleged fraud related to EU-funded training programs for young diplomats.

According to an official statement, Mogherini, Sannino, and Zegretti were formally informed of the charges against them, which include allegations of fraud, corruption in public contracts, conflicts of interest, and breaches of professional secrecy. Authorities decided to release them as there was no perceived risk of flight.

The Prosecutor’s Office emphasized that, in line with legal principles, all individuals involved are presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the competent Belgian courts.