Brussels, 15/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 March 2013, the president of the European Parliament (EP), Martin Schulz, told Europe's heads of state and/or government that, after the EP rejected their draft agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2014-2020, “the European Parliament and you, the heads of government, will endeavour to reach a compromise which is consistent with the interests of EU citizens and which guarantees Europe's financial viability”. He added: “The Members of the European Parliament have instructed me to outline to you our three key demands: 1) a budget that is geared to generating growth and jobs; 2) a budget which plugs the gap between commitments and payments; 3) a budget with a proper revision clause, and which offers a maximum degree of flexibility between financial years and categories of expenditure, an agreement on new own resources and a commitment to maintaining the unity of the EU budget”. He told the leaders: “You will need to engage in serious, informed negotiations if you want to turn 506'no' votes into at least 378 'yes' votes”. The French president, Francois Hollande, said the figures were non-negotiable, but flexiblity (between budget headings and years) and the mid-term review clause (or earlier) were. The EP wants the deficit to be eliminated before the start of the new seven-year budget in 2014. Hollande said that everything must be done to ensure all the budget cash is spent and if the €960 billion is fully spent, that will be more than is being spent under the current Multiannual Financial Framework. Asked about the 2013 deficit, the French president said one would have to see exactly how big it would be and whether it would be included in the 2013 budget or spread over a number of years. He said the heads of state and/or government would prefer the latter. (LC/MB/transl.fl)