"I think this so called deal has no majority in European Parliament," he told journalists at the Seimas.
The Austrian politician, leading the second largest group in the Parliament, said he didn't think that the compromise on the 2014-2020 budget, announced by the Irish EU presidency earlier this week, "is acceptable as it is now" and added that "as it is we will not put it to the vote."
The Socialist leader believes that the existing proposal does not ensure substantial financial flexibility.
"We have to accept that the budget is so low, in real terms, lower than in the past. But if, for example, agriculture prices are rising, we don’t need so much money for agriculture. Then it should go to fight unemployment, to support medium and small size industries, for innovation. This budget is not really able to support what we need in Europe, but we have to accept that it is low. But then the money should be spent on the priorities which are necessary. (...) And this flexibility we need we did not get yet," Swoboda said.
Earlier this week, the Irish EU presidency announced that it had reached a compromise on the budget with EP negotiators. The deal will be presented to member states and the European Parliament next week.
Official believe the budget vote in the Parliament will take place after July 1 when Lithuania takes over the EU presidency from Ireland.
At a Friday meeting with members of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė said that an agreement "must be reached as soon as possible for EU funds to reach members states in time."
