The European Union pledged a set of measures aimed at stepping up its response to a growing migration crisis and stemming the thousands of people risking the dangerous sea crossing to Europe.

The proposals, which now go to EU leaders for approval at an emergency summit on Thursday, include greater resources and a broader mandate for a joint EU-Italian border-control mission, as well as a possible military operation to destroy boats used by people smugglers.

The efforts mark the European bloc’s first concrete steps in months toward developing a more cohesive plan of action to grapple with the humanitarian emergency. The crisis has spiraled as growing numbers of migrants from Africa and the Middle East seek to escape strife and economic turmoil via Libya, whose collapse has allowed human-smuggling rings to flourish along its coast.

In a news conference after the ministers’ meeting, EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini spoke bluntly of the bloc’s failure to act more quickly after previous tragedies