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Warsaw continued its recent bitter war of words with eurocrats as it threatened to veto the proposed Rome Declaration, which is meant to pave the way forward for the project after Brexit.

Prime minister Beata Szydo said she would not hesitate to vote down the document if it does not match Polands priorities as her country takes an increasingly hard line towards European integration.

Such a move would spark pandemonium amongst other member states at what is supposed to be a carefully choreographed and painstakingly stage-managed display of unity during the blocs darkest hours.

Eurocrats have repeatedly talked up the summit in Rome, to be held on March 25, saying it will be a display of solidarity between the remaining member states and a birth certificate for the EU at 27.

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But those plans now appear to be in disarray amid a brutal and escalating diplomatic crisis with Warsaw, which has been infuriated by the re-election of Donald Tusk as EU Council president.

After the decision was made in Brussels earlier this month Polish ministers issued a series of extraordinary attacks on their fellow member states and vowed to take revenge by blocking future EU initiatives.

And now it appears they have the much-vaunted Rome Declaration, which is legally of no consequence but which could not be more symbolically important to Brussels, firmly in their sights.

Ms Szydo said: If the declaration does not include the issues which are priorities for Poland, we will not accept the declaration.

The unity of the European Union, defence of a tight NATO cooperation, strengthening the role of national governments and the rules of the common market which cannot divide but unite these are the four priorities which have to be included in the dec

Her open threat will provoke fury in Europes other capitals where for some senior leaders patience with Warsaws political grandstanding is growing increasingly thin.

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Hollande and Merkel on the second day of a European Summit

Earlier this month Francois Hollande appeared at the end of his tether with Poland when he said EU funding to the country - the blocs biggest recipient - should be pulled until it rows into line.

Those remarks sparked a blazing row over dinner with Ms Szydo, who subsequently called an extraordinary press conference at which she accused the rest of Europe of bullying and "blackmailing" her country.

The summit descended into acrimony after Warsaw vetoed the conclusions of the EU Council summit in protest at the re-election of Mr Tusk and of plans to pursue a two-speed Europe in which it fears it will be left behind.

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Poland vows to veto plan for EU future unless it includes more power back from Brussels - Express.co.uk