Federica Mogherini, the ex EU foreign policy chief, has been formally accused of procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy, the European Public Prosecutor's Office said on Wednesday. Along with two others, she was detained and subsequently released as part of an ongoing EU fraud investigation as they were not considered a flight risk, the EPPO added.

The two other suspects were referred to as a senior staff member at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, and a senior official from the European Comission. One of them has been named by Reuters as senior EU diplomat Stefano Sannino, citing three sources.

The EPPO said: "All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Belgian courts of law."

MORE TO FOLLOW...