EU commissioner slams holidays

This man should be back in work

A leading European politician has questioned the need for Europe's customary long summer holidays.

Neelie Kroes, the European Union's competition commissioner, said the economy would benefit if vacations were instead spread out through the year.

She said Europe currently didn't function for three months in the summer, and that things had to change.

"Everybody needs holidays, but we can spread it [out]," she said at a meeting of the European Parliament.

Neelie Kroes wants Europeans to spread out their holidays

"The serious economic situation in Europe really pushes us to do better," she added.

The European Commission has been trying to get countries to cut back red tape and consider reducing worker and social benefits, so as to compete better with emerging overseas economies such as China - a goal shared by Britain who holds the EU Presidency until January.

Unions, however, have moved to strongly defend rights and benefits.