This whole question of working time is one of the items we raise in the White Paper. If things are going to work satisfactorily, in my opinion it is vital to have a high level of cooperation between the social partners. I am a supporter of the flexible organization of work and I would even go so far as the annualization of working time. I have to recognize the new realities of the labour market. Companies want more flexible staff and individuals want more choice. Right across the Union I see more and more part-time work and I see that in certain Member States that have regulations giving the right kind of social protection and the right kind of remuneration this leads to an enormous increase in new jobs. We must face the realities but let us also recognize that low-paid work will not somehow help create the necessary jobs in a particular society. It will not. It is a short-term solution to go for low-paid jobs with no social protection. The United States model has proved that. Let us not import a bad system

into the European situation.