Former EU foreign policy chief, others arrested

Fraud investigation is the latest corruption scandal in the 27-nation bloc.

- By SAMUEL PETREQUIN AND LORNE Cook

HER LAWYER says Federica Mogherini, seen last month, was “transparent” during police questioning.

(SEBASTIAN CHRISTOPH GOLLNOW Picture Alliance)

The European Union's former foreign policy chief faces corruption accusations alongside two other people arrested this week as part of a fraud investigation, prosecutors said Wednesday, in the latest scandal to hit the 27-nation bloc.

Authorities in Belgium made the arrests Tuesday after raiding the offices of the EU diplomatic service in Brussels and a college in Bruges. Federica Mogherini led the EU foreign service from 2014 to 2019 and now serves as the rector of the College of Europe, a prestigious institute of European studies.

Her arrest came as the EU has been urging Ukraine to tackle rampant corruption. It risks tarnishing the EU’s international image just as it seeks to assert influence in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office said in a statement that Mogherini, a senior staff member of the College of Europe and a senior official from the European Commission were detained at its request.