EU plane to monitor Channel for crossings as leaders stress need to work with UK

Ministers and officials met in Calais to discuss the migrant crisis (Francois Lo Presti/ Pool Photo via AP)

An EU plane is set to monitor the shores of the English Channel for people crossing, as European leaders stressed the need to cooperate with the UK after 27 people died when a boat capsized.

Interior ministers from France, the Netherlands, Belgium and the European Commission met in Calais on Sunday to discuss small boat crossings – without UK officials or UK Home Secretary Priti Patel present.