Ankara: Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Tuesday called for a thorough examination of the events in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants from Morocco reportedly attempted to reach the territory by sea last week. Speaking ahead of a meeting of European interior ministers, De Wever said the EU needed to establish exactly what happened.

According to Anadolu Agency, De Wever emphasized the need for clarity on the situation, stating, "It seems as though there is an open door and that anyone wanting to put pressure on us can use migration as a geopolitical weapon. That is particularly frustrating." He highlighted the necessity for discussions among EU leaders to determine the circumstances of the incident.

The Belgian prime minister also acknowledged the calls from certain countries to consider excluding Spain from the Schengen area, while underscoring that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has the democratic mandate to pursue his government's migration policies. "It is clear that Europe must close its borders," De Wever remarked, but he also affirmed Sanchez's right to implement the policies on which he was elected.

The crisis saw more than 50,000 migrants entering the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco last week. By Friday evening, Spanish authorities estimated that over 48,300 migrants had returned, while 72 people lost their lives during the turmoil. Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish-administered enclaves on Morocco's northern coast, representing the EU's only land borders with the African continent.