EMMANUEL Macron has urged EU countries to stick to their hardline stance on Brexit amid signs some are softening towards Britain’s proposals.

The French president warned a trade deal with the UK “can’t come at the expense of the EU’s integrity” as he spelled out his vision for a European superstate.

Paris has taken the hardest line of all towards Britain in the negotiations and has repeatedly shot down Theresa May’s proposals for future relations.

But diplomats have said France is becoming increasingly “isolated” amongst member states, many of whom are prepared to compromise to reach a deal.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Macron said: “Brexit is a sovereign choice, which we must respect. But it can’t come at the expense of the EU’s integrity.

France wants to maintain a strong, special relationship with London, but not if the cost is the EU’s unravelling. We will have to build a strategic partnership with the UK but the priority is rebuilding the EU.”

France wants to maintain a strong, special relationship with London, but not if the cost is the EU’s unravelling. We will have to build a strategic partnership with the UK but the priority is rebuilding the EU.”

During a speech at the Elsyee Palace in Paris, Mr Macron also called for a eurozone budget, EU army and a single asylum policy for the whole bloc.

However, his rallying cry for togetherness was overshadowed by a furious tirade from Italy’s interior minister who ripped into the whole project as “filth”.

Matteo Salvini berated eurocrats and other EU countries for what he sees as a failure to fairly share the burden from the continent’s migration crisis.

His outburst showed how Europe, which has maintained a strong unity on Brexit, continues to be deeply divided on many other issues.

The eurosceptic was infuriated after a row about who should take in asylum seekers rescued at sea in the Mediterranean.

Coastguard ship the Diciotti was held at a port in Sicily with 150 migrants on board for nearly a week after Italian authorities refused to let it dock.

Rome finally relented and let all asylum seekers disembark on Sunday after Ireland and non-EU Albania agreed to take some of them in.

But Mr Salvini fumed: “Europe has demonstrated once again to be unprecedented filth that doesn’t deserve our money.”

As the crisis escalated the country’s PM, Guiseppe Conte, threatened to veto the bloc’s next seven-year budget unless more help is provided.

And deputy PM Luigi Di Maio blasted: “The EU has decided to turn its back on Italy once again. They want the 20 billion euros paid by Italian citizens? Then let them demonstrate that they deserve it and that they are taking charge of a problem that we can no longer face alone. The borders of Italy are the borders of Europe.”

EU budget chief Gunther Oettinger hit back by pointing out Italy actually pays in around 16 billion a year, leaving a net contribution of just 3 billion. He also warned Rome that if it reneges on its budget commitment it would face “late payment interests” and “further heavy sanctions” in retaliation.