EU leaders are gathering in Brussels on Thursday for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the Mediterranean migrant crisis. The possibility of launching a military operation against human traffickers in Libya is on the table following the deaths of hundreds of migrants in the Mediterranean.

A draft statement that may be signed by leaders will commit to “undertake systematic efforts to identify, capture and destroy vessels before they are used by traffickers.”

European officials want to give a firm answer.  So far, Europe has strengthened surveillance and monitoring of the region, however the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Commissioner Federica Mogherini will now be invited to begin preparations for a possible “security and defence policy operation to this effect, in accordance with international law,” according to a draft statement seen by AFP on Wednesday.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Monday spoke of the possibility of “targeted interventions” against human traffickers from Libya.

A source noted that authorization from the EU will depend on the size and goal of the operation and pointed out that it won’t be a war, just “targeted action”. Another diplomatic source spoke to the complicated nature of the operation whose implementation would take time.