Federica Mogherini, the former European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, was released overnight after being among three people detained in Belgium on Tuesday in relation to a corruption probe.
Stefano Sannino, the former European External Action Service (EEAS) Secretary General and former Italian ambassador to Spain who is currently the European Commission's Director-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, and the third person being probed, Italian-Belgian national Cesare Zegretti, were also released after being questioned.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) said the three individuals were formally notified of the accusations against them concerning procurement fraud and corruption, conflict of interest and violation of professional secrecy.
They were released as they are not considered a flight risk, it said.
Former Italian foreign minister Mogherini served as the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs between 2014 and 2019.
