The European Union's 27 member states will try to co-ordinate restrictions on links to the UK, after dozens of countries suspended travel amid alarm over a new coronavirus variant. So far most of the bloc has acted individually. France and the UK are trying to reach a deal on ending disruption in the Channel from Wednesday. The new variant appears to be more transmissible, but there is no sign it is more deadly. Almost all EU member states are now blocking travellers from the UK. EU co-ordination talks are continuing in Brussels, and the European Commission is expected to make an announcement later on Tuesday. Despite those talks, countries are likely to continue with their own policies. More than 1,500 lorries are stuck in Kent in south-east England as UK and French leaders try to reach an agreement on reopening the French border. Some countries, such as Spain, Portugal and Hungary, are only allowing their residents to return home. The European Commission is set to propose technical recommendations on co-ordinating the flow of goods with the UK. Then EU ambassadors, meanwhile, will consider travel restrictions. As the list of countries imposing travel restrictions on the UK grew, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Europe director, Hans Kluge, said member states would convene to discuss strategies and limit travel, while maintaining trade. Earlier WHO emergencies chief Mike Ryan said new strains were a normal part of the evolution of a pandemic, and that it was not "out of control", contradicting earlier remarks in the UK from Health Secretary Matt Hancock. The co-founder of BioNTech, producer with Pfizer of the vaccine now being used in the UK, also voiced optimism. "Scientifically, it is highly likely that the immune response by this vaccine also can deal with the new virus variant," Ugur Sahin said. He added that, if needed, a mutation-beating vaccine could be provided within six weeks.