Amsterdam - Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told parliament on Tuesday he has not been approached for the new position of president of the European Union (EU).

"I have not been asked for the job," Balkenende told lawmakers.

However, Balkenende admitted he had been in contact on several occasions with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt - the current EU chairman.

Reinfeldt is consulting European leaders about their preferred candidates for the presidency, and high representative for foreign affairs - the new posts created by the Lisbon Treaty.

Balkenende repeated earlier statements that he was not a candidate for the position.

Last month Dutch media cited "sources close to the prime minister" confirming that Balkenende was actively lobbying for the job - despite publicly insisting he was not a candidate. (dpa)