Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said Tuesday that deposed Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont "will be treated like any other European citizen" after he said he planned to stay in Brussels.

"Mr Puigdemont has the same rights and responsibilities as any European citizen -- no more, no less," Michel said in a statement, stressing that his government had not invited the Catalan leader, who gave a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday.