Defense Secretary Michael Fallon on Tuesday said Britain would send specialist staff to help develop the details of a mission to disrupt the criminal networks behind the flow of migrants heading to Europe via Libya.

"We have made some progress today to a more comprehensive plan that will tackle the problem at source, disrupt the trafficker routes and get after the criminals who are involved in this activity," he said.

"We have the Royal Navy already off the Libyan coast, helping in search and rescue."

European ministers have agreed plans for a naval operation to tackle human smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean, the European Union's foreign policy chief says.