Calls to Abandon Daylight Saving Time Grow Among European Lawmakers
This weekend, as the clocks across Europe fall back an hour, a coalition of 67 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is advocating for the abolition of this longstanding practice. Lawmakers are expressing serious concerns about the “outdated” effects of clock changes on sleep patterns, traffic safety, and even heart attack incidents.
MEP Seán Kelly from Ireland, representing the European People’s Party, emphasized the urgency of the matter in a recent statement. He declared, “It is time to put an end to the biannual clock change, which has been proven to have negative effects on health, well-being, and safety.” His remarks were made alongside a letter directed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Kelly further noted that there is a “widespread agreement across the political spectrum” regarding the need to discontinue the clock changes, asserting that it is both a practical and popular measure. The letter has garnered support from a diverse group of political figures, including former Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas, Health Committee Chair Adam Jarubas from Poland, and various MEPs from Germany, Spain, and Italy, representing all political factions within the European Parliament.
A study conducted in 2017 for the Parliament revealed that the ramifications of altering the clocks on human biorhythms are “more severe than previously thought.” Additionally, the study found that the advantages or disadvantages of such changes for sectors like agriculture remain inconclusive. Historically, Daylight Saving Time was first implemented in the UK and Germany during World War I to conserve coal. However, recent analyses suggest that the energy savings from this practice are minimal at best.
The tradition of adjusting clocks to make the most of natural daylight has its roots in the early 20th century and is currently regulated by a 2001 EU directive. According to this regulation, the clocks are set back one hour at 1 AM GMT on the last Sunday of October, and then moved forward again on the last Sunday of March.
In 2018, the European Commission conducted an online consultation regarding the clock change, which resulted in a staggering 4.6 million responses, with an impressive 84% of participants advocating for the abolition of the biannual clock adjustment. However, the subsequent year saw the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, which stalled any potential progress on this issue.
As von der Leyen prepares to begin her second term leading the EU executive, her team of 26 Commissioners is scheduled to face confirmation hearings before MEPs starting on November 4. When approached by Euronews, a spokesperson for the Commission stated that the decision now lies with the EU’s Council, which represents member states and has yet to reach a consensus on the 2018 proposal.
The Commission has previously stated that “while avoiding fragmentation, member states are best placed to decide on whether they want to keep permanent summer or wintertime,” according to the spokesperson.
This article was updated at 14:49 to include the Commission’s statement.
