Conservative and Green Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) criticized EU proposals to reform farm payouts, saying it falls short on environmental targets and may increase big differences in farmers' incomes. The EU's agricultural committee will vote this week on the proposal, which allows 15 percent of environmental spending to be switched to direct farm support. Under current EU policies, direct payments to farmers make up most of the EU's agricultural budget, which itself makes up 40 percent of bloc spending. Environmental and wildlife protection spending generally falls under the rural development budget and is significantly smaller than direct payouts to farmers, of which large agricultural firms and landowners are major beneficiaries. The Greens called the plan a "massive missed opportunity for overhauling the EU's agriculture policy," with MEP Jose Bove saying that "huge farming businesses which do not need the funding will continue to get big pay checks, whilst depriving other sustainable areas of the [Common Agricultural Policy] from funding." For the full story, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24284329.