London (AFP)

London and Brussels have urged each other to "compromise" before the start of Brexit talks on Monday, with the UK government suggesting it could soften its stance on "problematic" issues in Boris Johnson's plan.

The Prime Minister's plan, presented on Wednesday, aims to end the Irish border puzzle, avoiding the return of controls after the Brexit between the Republic of Ireland, an EU member, and the British province of Northern Ireland, leaving the EU like the rest of the UK.

But the Europeans welcomed this project with skepticism, considering that it included "problematic" points and had to be reworked. Boris Johnson, for his part, felt he had done his part.

In a letter published by the Sunday Express and Sun on Sunday, two newspapers pro Brexit, the conservative leader claims to have made "compromises" and calls on the EU to do the same.

"I say to our European friends: seize the opportunity offered by our new proposals, join us at the negotiating table in a spirit of compromise and cooperation, and make a Brexit that works for both sides," writes Boris Johnson.

For its part, Brussels returns the ball to London, calling for new proposals.

EU Brexit Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier told Le Monde that an agreement was "very difficult" but "possible". He pointed out that if the British government does not "come back with new proposals on two serious problems that we have reported to them, I do not see how we could move forward".

These problems are the return of customs controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the right of veto that London wishes to grant to the Northern Ireland Parliament.

- "Flexibility" and "creativity" -

Brexit Minister Steve Barclay was open on Sunday to the compromise on the issue of the required consent of Northern Ireland: "we can look at this and discuss that," he said.

As for the second problem identified by the Europeans, the complexity of the British proposals to avoid the reestablishment of a border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, "we can of course go into the details of their operational functioning", asserted Mr Barclay, but he called on the EU to show flexibility and creativity.

The conclusion of a Brexit agreement "depends entirely on the will of Mr Johnson because on the European side, we are always open," Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins told the BBC on Sunday.

Twenty-five days before the Brexit date, Boris Johnson has said there will be no more postponement of Brexit, which has already been delayed twice.

A law recently adopted by the British Parliament, however, forced him to postpone the date of divorce for lack of agreement at the next EU summit on 17 and 18 October, to avoid a "no deal" with potentially disastrous economic and social consequences.

But, determined to get his country out of the EU "no matter what" October 31, Boris Johnson could ignore the law and cling to his job, then challenging Queen Elizabeth to sack him, says the Sunday Times. citing sources in the government.

Another card he could play: the veto of an EU country at the time request. A postponement must indeed be approved unanimously by the Member States, and a single defection would be enough to block this request.

The Telegraph on Saturday raised the possibility that Viktor Orban's Hungary will come to Boris Johnson's rescue.

"So far, there is no request for a postponement, so there is no room for speculation," a source told the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to AFP.

Pending the resumption of negotiations Monday, Boris Johnson talks with European leaders.

One of his interlocutors, Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, said he told Johnson that it was "important to find a solution within a week ". "Johnson said he agreed with this schedule," he added.

© 2019 AFP