Is there any progress on the legislation to end seasonal time changes?  

14.10.2020

Question for written answer E-005617/2020
to the Council
Rule 138
Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE)

The Summer-Time Directive requires Member States to change the clocks to summer time on the last Sunday of March and back to standard time on the last Sunday of October.

In 2019, the European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution according to which the clocks would be changed for the last time on the last Sunday of March 2021, for Member States remaining permanently on summer time. Member States remaining permanently on winter time would change the clocks for the last time on the last Sunday of October 2021.

Changing the clocks twice a year causes health problems for Europeans and current research suggests that summer time has no significant benefit to agriculture or business.

The Member States have reviewed the Commission’s 2019 proposal at national level and active preparations have been in progress since 2018 to repeal the Summer-Time Directive (2000/84/EU). According to the Commission’s proposal, Member States will coordinate their time-zone plans among themselves so as to avoid disruption to the EU’s internal markets.

How is the Council monitoring and encouraging the completion of the legislation to end seasonal time changes? 

Is there any evidence that the time arrangements could have a significant, detrimental effect on the functioning of the internal markets?

Is there any information available on the decisions made by the Member States regarding time zones?