Theresa May flies to Poland to sign treaty a day after EU takes unprecedented action over country's slide toward authoritarianism

PM plans defence treaty with Mateusz Morawiecki

Theresa May is to meet Poland’s new prime minister a day after the EU took unprecedented action to stop the country’s slide into authoritarianism.

The PM is visiting Warsaw for meetings with Mateusz Morawiecki, who has been in office for less than a fortnight since the resignation of his predecessor Beata Szydlo.

The European Commission on Thursday decided to recommend the invocation of Article 7.1, starting a legal process that could see Poland’s voting rights suspended on the Europe Council and warning that “the entire structure of the justice system” was being compromised by authoritarian reforms.

Over the last two years Polish government has passed 13 laws that would help it stuff courts with political appointees, including tribunals that decide the validity of election results. It comes amid a growing nationalist movement in the country operating with the tacit support of the government

The UK has so far remained neutral in Warsaw’s dispute with Brussels, but any future vote, expected in March, would be complicated for the UK because Poland is seen as a key ally in Brexit talks.

Asked whether the PM’s endorsement so soon after the censure was launched, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister will raise her concerns with the [Polish] prime minister when they meet.

"We hope that Poland and the Commission can resolve this through discussion."

Meanwhile Ms May is expected to announce a new joint UK-Poland treaty on Defence and Security Co-operation, calling it a “powerful symbol of our continued close co-operation”.

Speaking ahead of the summit, she said: “Poland matters greatly to the UK. Our partnership is broad, vibrant and diverse and we both share a steadfast commitment to Europe's security and defence.

“I am determined that Brexit will not weaken our relationship with Poland. Rather, it will serve as a catalyst to strengthen it.”