Poland's prime minister has announced that the future of a controversial project to built a highway in northeastern Poland should be decided by a local community in a referendum.

Speaking to journalists Jaroslaw Kaczynski called the dispute between the government, which gave the go ahead for the road, and environmentalists who are protesting the plans, a 'national problem.

Meanwhile EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas had said that the Commission may ask the EU's highest court to stop the planned motorway if Poland presses ahead with the project.

The Commission had told the country an alternative construction plan, which environmentalists say could be completed more easily and cheaply via a different route, violates EU ecological laws.

Polish Environment Minister Jan Szyszko, however, has decided to go ahead anyway.

He will be going to Brussels on Monday to try and resolve the issue.