Federica Mogherini Released from Belgian Custody Amid EU Corruption Probe

Federica Mogherini, current president of the College of Europe and former European Union foreign policy chief, was released early Wednesday morning by Belgian police after being detained.

According to Belgian police, Mogherini had been arrested a day earlier in connection with an operation linked to an investigation into financial corruption within the European Union. She was taken into custody alongside Stefano Sannino, the former Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, over serious allegations including embezzlement, administrative corruption, and conflict of interest.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that the suspects, including Mogherini, have been formally charged with fraud related to procurement contracts for goods and services, corruption, and the unlawful disclosure of professional information. These charges are part of a wider investigation into the misuse of EU funds earmarked for training young diplomats.

The arrest of such high-profile European figures has sparked widespread reaction in political and media circles. Although the prosecutor’s office emphasized that the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the incident has once again raised serious questions about transparency and accountability within European diplomatic institutions.