European Commission studies future of daylight saving time

The debate regarding the abolition of daylight saving time in the European Union has resurfaced. Following an initiative by Poland, which suggested a two-year trial period of permanent summer time during its 2025 EU Council presidency, the European Commission has launched a study to examine the issue.

This study, initiated in February 2026, is set to analyze ten different scenarios regarding the future of timekeeping. The research aims to evaluate the potential impacts on health, sleep patterns, energy consumption, and economic consequences. While a proposal to end biannual clock changes was made in 2018, member states failed to reach a consensus at that time.

Until a political agreement is reached, the current system remains in place. The next scheduled transition to winter time will occur on October 25, 2026, when clocks will be set back from 3:00 to 2:00. The European Union has already published a schedule for clock changes through 2031, though these dates remain subject to change if new regulations are adopted.