A group of 44 members of the European Parliament, representing 15 EU countries and six political groups, has issued a formal appeal to EU transport ministers. The coalition is demanding an end to the current deadlock, urging officials to resume the stalled legislative process to abolish the seasonal changing of clocks.
This call to action arrives just before the upcoming weekend. On Saturday, October 24, citizens across Europe will once again turn their clocks back by one hour, marking the end of daylight saving time. While this shift grants Europeans an extra hour of sleep—compensating for the hour lost when clocks were moved forward in March—the biannual ritual remains a point of significant contention.
The current system, which requires member states to synchronize their time changes on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October, was established by an EU directive in 2001. This regulation was designed to prevent complications for cross-border activities, transport, and communications. The practice itself dates back to the 1970s, initially introduced as a measure to conserve energy following the oil crisis.
Public sentiment appears to favor change. In 2018, the European Commission conducted a public consultation that drew 4.6 million responses—the most successful in EU history—with 84 percent of participants supporting the abolition of time changes. Consequently, the Commission proposed legislation to end the practice, which the European Parliament supported by a large majority in 2019. However, the proposal stalled at the EU Council level as national governments failed to reach a consensus on whether to adopt permanent summertime or wintertime, or how to coordinate these changes to avoid a fragmented patchwork of time zones.
German MEP Peter Liese, who spearheaded the latest letter to transport ministers, criticized the lack of progress. He labeled the inaction as "irresponsible," noting that the failure to reach an agreement stems from member states rather than European institutions. Liese, a medical doctor, emphasized that the twice-yearly shifts are linked to "sleep disturbances, fatigue and difficulties concentrating." Recent studies also questioned the extent of energy savings achieved with the practice. He stated, "There is no sensible reason to disrupt the daily rhythm of millions of people twice a year. Those responsible must finally take action," he argued.
While member states have previously cited the lack of an impact assessment as a reason for delay, Liese characterized this as a "pretext." A new study commissioned by the EU executive regarding the impact of ending these changes is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The letter acknowledged the need for careful coordination to protect the internal market, but insisted that these challenges are surmountable with sufficient political will.
Some 44 members of the European Parliament from 15 different EU countries and six political groups have called on EU transport ministers to break the deadlock and get the plan to end the seasonal changing of the clocks moving again.
“For eight years, Member States have used the lack of an impact assessment as an excuse for failing to act on the proposal. I believe this argument is a pretext. Nevertheless, it is good that the new study is finally coming,” he added.
