The paper examines legislation on working time in Europe, with particular reference to Community norms and their recent modification proposals, and to some countries in the European Union (Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Uk). The analysis conducted highlights, on the one hand, the inherent weaknesses of the former especially regarding worker protection standards and the possibility of derogation. On the other hand, after having examined the fundamental institutes of national norms, the author concludes by noting the weak influence of Eu norms on legislation in member states, indeed they seem to undermine current protection measures.only subscribers can see the full article