The European Union has approved a plan to use naval forces to intercept migrant smuggler ships operating from North African countries, such as Libya, at a meeting of EU defence ministers and foreign ministers on Monday.

The plan aims to militarise the EU response to the surge in migrant smuggling ships crossing the Mediterranean, where thousands of asylum-seekers have already died attempting the perilous journey.

The plan to use naval force still requires further approvals from European governments and legal legitimacy from the UN Security Council, in addition to possible cooperation from countries in North Africa. The UK will play a leading role at the Security Council in drafting a resolution that provides the legal basis for this use of naval force.

EU Foreign Policy Chief, Federica Mogherini expressed hope that the operation would be underway by June and explained that it would consist of three phases: intelligence gathering on smugglers, inspection and detection of smugglers’ boats, and destruction of those boats.

Meanwhile, critics have pointed out that the plan does little to address the root causes of the surge in migration or the fates of hopeful asylum-seekers.