Brussels: EU lawmakers have pushed for an independent investigation into a migrant boat tragedy that occurred off the coast of Greece and is thought to have killed hundreds of people, claiming that an internal investigation by Athens was insufficient.

This position, which is also supported by the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency, aims to shed light on the June capsize of a ship carrying too many people on its way from North Africa to Europe.

Based on data from the Greek government, EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson informed MEPs that "maybe 600 people" drowned and "around" 110 people were saved.

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According to her, Egyptian smugglers used the fishing trawler, sailing it from Egypt empty to Libya to pick up as many as 750 people for the Mediterranean crossing to Europe.

According to how much they paid, the migrants were "stacked" on the bottom of the "very, very overcrowded boat" with Pakistani men, women, and children in the middle, and those with "high status" on top.

Frontex chief Hans Leijtens testified before the same European Parliament committee that a plane with low fuel and then a drone were diverted to overfly the boat.

The drone pulled over to watch another migrant boat two hours away, and when it came back, "it had already sunk," the man claimed.

Leijtens stated, "We offered to help, but there was no response from Greek authorities.

Some survivors claim that by tying a rope to their drifting boat and then driving off at high speed, the Greek coast guard was responsible for the tragedy.

The Greek government denies that. It has opened two investigations, one into smugglers it blames for the event, and the other into the actions of its coast guard.

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The “seriousness” of the tragedy required an “independent and transparent international investigation,” the MEP chairing the European Parliament hearing, Birgit Sippel, said.

The committee called on Greece and the European Commission to set up a probe “as a matter of urgency” to examine what actions the Greek coast guard and Frontex took in relation with international obligations for search and rescue, she said.

Another MEP on the committee, Sophie in ‘t Veld, called it “naive to say ‘but, you know, the Greek authorities are going to take care of this and we can trust them’“

Johansson emphasised that the commission lacked the authority to launch a maritime search and rescue organisation for the entire EU or conduct its own investigation.

While acknowledging that there were "a lot of unanswered questions" regarding the tragedy, it was stated that "it's the responsibility of the member states to investigate these kinds of things."

However, she acknowledged, "we have to realise that we are not doing enough."

She said, "Unfortunately, this will happen again.

She said the focus of the commission was on reducing migration from transit countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Libya as well as source countries like many in Africa and Pakistan.

The EU has been charged with implementing a "Fortress Europe" policy by non-governmental organisations and charities like Oxfam as it considers quickening the return of unsuccessful asylum seekers.

A "proper investigation" into the migrant boat tragedy off the coast of Greece, according to Michael O'Flaherty, director of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, was required, he told the parliamentary committee.

He added that "we've seen a problem" with EU nations using a "overly restrictive understanding" of the circumstances that must exist in order for them to fulfil their international obligation to conduct sea rescue operations.

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The organisation offers policy advice to EU institutions and governments and educates the public about rights, such as equal access to justice and discrimination.

On Thursday, it unveiled a fresh report on preventing and documenting maritime fatalities that, according to O'Flaherty, "closely account" of the most recent migrant boat capsize.