Berlin -- General Motors Corp. has pledged to avoid plant closings and forced layoffs in Europe as it seeks to return its money-losing operations there to profitability, worker representatives said yesterday. But it was unclear how the deal would fit with GM's plans to slash up to 12,000 jobs in the next two years in Europe, mostly in Germany, to cut excess capacity. GM Europe said it would have no comment yesterday. GM Europe said when it announced the cost-cutting drive in October that it intends to save about $665-million (U.S.) a year, but board chairman Carl Peter Forster said Tuesday the company wants to save even more. Worker representatives have said they hope firings can be averted by having GM Europe offer workers buyouts or by setting up new companies subsidized with government jobless benefits. GM (NYSE) rose 8 cents to $38.26. AP