I am ashamed to say that I missed the opportunity to place comments on the EASA website. The FTL variation document is now closed. For anybody doubting whether companies will extend their working hours, here is a typical sequence of events which occurs under current rules:
Pilot fatigued so declines to fly.
Manager states that the legal limits only work if you manage your sleep properly.
Pilot offered sleep management course.
Pilot still tired because the one theory fits all is rubbish.
Management makes it clear that sleep management is an essential duty of the pilot and if he is unable to manage his/her sleep patterns then he/she is unfit/unsuitable to be a pilot.
Pilot continues to fly tired instead of losing job.
Disciplinary action because too tired to add two numbers together at the end of a sequence of duties
etc etc