Federica Mogherini. © Getty Images / Anadolu / Contributor

Former EU top diplomat Federica Mogherini has stepped down from her post at the College of Europe, days after being charged with corruption.

Mogherini, who was detained for questioning on Tuesday, served as both European Commission vice president and the bloc`s foreign policy chief from 2014 to 2019, while also leading the European External Action Service (EEAS). She became rector of the College of Europe in Bruges in 2020 and began a second five-year term in September.

She is now among three suspects formally accused by the European Public Prosecutor`s Office (EPPO) of procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and breaches of professional secrecy over an EU-funded diplomatic academy program.

Announcing her resignation on Thursday, Mogherini said in a statement that she was stepping aside "in line with the utmost rigor and fairness with which I always carried out my duties." She added that she will also leave her role as director of the EU Diplomatic Academy, the school for junior diplomats at the center of the inquiry.

Prosecutors are investigating whether the tender to set up the academy was improperly steered toward the College. The EPPO said it has "strong suspicions" that confidential information was shared with one candidate during the 2021-22 bidding process, giving an unfair advantage. The academy opened in 2023 with a budget of nearly €1 million ($1.1 million).

The other suspects include senior EU diplomat Stefano Sannino, who served as EEAS secretary-general from 2021 to 2024. Sannino said on Wednesday that he would retire at the end of the month from his current European Commission post.

Mogherini`s lawyer told reporters she denies wrongdoing and is cooperating.

Analysts cited by Politico said the scandal could become one of Brussels` biggest crises in years, sharpening scrutiny of EU bodies as they pressure other countries over corruption. The outlet also reported that the affair has revived political pressure on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and that opponents are preparing a fresh drive to seek her removal.

In light of the scandal, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has accused Brussels of turning a blind eye to rampant corruption in Ukraine, arguing that drawing attention to it would risk exposing similar problems inside the EU itself.