(Reuters) -EU member states and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on an overhaul of the EU’s huge farming subsidies, weakening environmental standards as part of plans to cut back regulations and paperwork for farmers.

The plans exempt smaller farmers from baseline requirements tying their subsidies to efforts to protect the environment, while the EU would increase the payments they can receive.

“This will help the agricultural industry grow and become stronger, boosting the sector’s competitiveness across Europe,” Denmark’s Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre said in a statement late on Monday.

Campaigners have said the changes would make farmers more vulnerable to climate change.

The EU Commission launched proposals for the overhaul in May, following

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