Top European Union officials have criticized the bloc's member states for failing to take decisive action to reverse the influx of refugees as more migrants die off the continent's southern coasts.   

"What we need now is the collective courage to follow through with concrete action on words that will otherwise ring empty," said a statement issued on Thursday by First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avrampoulos.

The statement came following reports that some 200 migrants headed for the EU from Libya had drowned on Wednesday in the Mediterranean Sea.

"It is easy to cry in front of your TV set when witnessing these tragedies. It is harder to stand up and take responsibility," the statement said.

The statement went on to say that the challenges posed by human migration were neither "simple, nor single, ..., nor can any member state effectively address migration alone. It is clear that we need a new, more European approach" to address migration.

The three EU officials emphasized the bloc's measures to address the problem were "not enough."

More than 2,000 people have died at sea so far this year.

In April, the 28 EU leaders agreed to take urgent action to halt the problem at source and step up rescue efforts to save stranded migrants.

Italy, Greece and Malta have received the highest number of migrants.

Last month, EU members remained undecided on how to distribute the migrants spread across Italy and Greece.