<p>The EU first unified the summer-time arrangements in 1980, in order to ensure a harmonised approach to time switching within the single market, as until then, national summer-time practices and schedules were diverging. The current summer-time arrangements directive requires Member States to switch to summer-time on the last Sunday of March and back to standard time (informally known as winter-time) on the last Sunday of October. MEPs voted to end the practice of adjusting clocks by an hour in spring and autumn from 2021 on 26/03/2019</p>

<p>The system of bi-annual clock changes has been increasingly questioned, by citizens, by the European Parliament, and by a growing number of Member States. The Commission has, therefore, analysed available evidence, which points to the importance of having harmonised rules in this area to ensure a proper functioning of the internal market. This is also supported by the European Parliament as well as other actors. In February 2020, the TRAN Committee designated Johan Danielsson (S&D, Sweden) as rapporteur.</p>

Seasonal time change

Seasonal time change on a watch

EP Press conference. The vote on ending clock change

Plenary session - Discontinuing seasonal changes of time

Seasonal time change in the EU

TRAN Committee - Vote on the proposal on discontinuing seasonal time changes

.Time change. Summer time - winter time change.Twice-yearly hour change.  Summer time arrangements to introduce a common date and time in all Member States.Time change. Summer time - winter time change.Twice-yearly hour change.  Seasonal time change - Hour changing on a clock

Summer time arrangements to introduce a common date and time in all Member States

To end the biannual change of clocks that currently takes place in every Member State at the end of March and the end of October, on 12 September 2018 the European Commission adopted a proposal to discontinue the seasonal changes of time in the Union. The EP position adopted on 26.03.2019 takes the view that the clock change on the last Sunday in March 2021 should be the last one for EU countries that decide to keep their summer time. Statement by Johan DANIELSSON (S&D, SE), Rapporteur, on the state of play.

Discontinuing seasonal changes of time: statement by Johan DANIELSSON (S&D, SE), Rapporteur

Pavel SVOBODA (EPP, CZ), Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Anna ZÁBORSKÁ (EPP, SK), Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&D, FI), Merja KYLLÖNEN (GUE/NGL, FI), Andrzej GRZYB (EPP, PL), Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK (EPP, NL), Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), Angelika NIEBLER (EPP, DE), and Gesine MEISSNER (ALDE, DE), speak to the press on the vote on ending clock change, during the plenary session in Strasbourg (25-28 March 2019).

Press conference on vote on ending clock change by Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI)

During the plenary session (25-28 March 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the discontinuing seasonal changes of time. Extracts from the debate with statements by Marita ULVSKOG (S&D, SE), Rapporteur, Violeta BULC, Member of the EC in charge of Transport, Helmut SCHOLZ (GUE/NGL, DE), INTA Committee and Ulrike MÜLLER (ALDE, DE), AGRI Committee on the 25/03. Footage from the vote and illustrative shots.

Discontinuing seasonal changes of time: extracts from the debate (25/03) and from the vote, and illustrative shots

Discontinuing seasonal changes of time: Opening statements by Marita ULVSKOG (S&D,SE), rapporteur and by Violeta BULC, Member of the EC in charge of Transport (19:42 - 19:52)

During the meeting of the EP Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), Members vote on the discontinuing seasonal changes of time, in the European Parliament, in Brussels. Extracts from the vote and statement by Marita ULVSKOG (S&D, SE), rapporteur. Illustrative shots on seasonal change of time.

Discontinuing seasonal changes of time: extracts from the vote, statement by Marita ULVSKOG (S&D, SE), rapporteur, and ilustrative shots

Illustrations of time changes: Time lapses, clocks and watches. Time change can be problematic for children, the elderly, and animals. Milking cows/waking a toddler/ earlier breakfast and running to make the school bus.

Infoclip: Proposal to end seasonal time changes

During the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs vote on Summer-time arrangements. The results are: 384 in favour, 153 against and 12 abstentions.

Summer-time arrangements: extracts from the vote

Pavel SVOBODA (EPP, CZ), rapporteur, Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK (EPP, NL), Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&D, FI) speak to the press about the vote to stop the biannual clock change, during the EP plenary session (5-8 February 2018) in Strasbourg.

Press conference by Pavel SVOBODA (EPP, CZ), rapporteur, Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, Annie SCHREIJER-PIERIK (EPP, NL), Heidi HAUTALA (Greens/EFA, FI), Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI (S&D, FI) on the vote to stop the biannual clock change

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