Poland and Hungary could be forced out of the EU if they do not accept migrants as the bloc plans to issue an ultimatum to the countries, the UK’s The Times daily has said.

The Times said that “Germany, France and up to 21 other countries” are set to issue the ultimatum to Hungary and Poland in 2017 demanding that the two countries “accept their quota of migrants or get out of the EU”.

Neither Poland nor Hungary have accepted any migrants from the Middle East and Africa through an EU programme to relocate some 160,000 of asylum seekers currently residing in camps in Italy and Greece.

In the article published on Tuesday, The Times said that “Hungary has led a rebellion against the quota sheme with a challenge in the EU courts,” while “Poland has ignored the European Commission’s criticism”.

A diplomatic source told the daily: “They will have to make a choice: are they in the European system or not? You cannot blackmail the EU, unity has a price.”

In the coming weeks, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will hold a hearing on the legality of migrant quotas. A verdict is likely by the end of the year. Experts say that the ECJ will likely rule in favour of the scheme.

“We are confident that the ECJ will confirm validation,” the source told The Times.

“Then they [Hungary and Poland] must abide by the decision. If they don’t then they will face consequences, both financial and political. No more opt-outs. There is no more ‘one foot in and one foot out’. We are going to be very tough on this.” (rg/pk)