Citing EU sources familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that the EU was sceptical about the Brexit deal getting finalised before the March 21-22 summit. “The bloc is trying to prevent direct negotiations between 27 leaders and British Prime Minister Theresa May,” sources said and added that Attorney General Cox’s “mini-backstop” would envisage fewer checks on the Irish border than the backstop already envisaged in the EU-UK withdrawal deal.