European Parliament members urge end to seasonal clock changes

Forty-four members of the European Parliament, representing 15 countries and six political groups, have called on EU transport ministers to resolve the deadlock regarding the abolition of seasonal clock changes.

The proposal to end daylight saving time originated from a 2018 European Commission consultation where 84 percent of 4.6 million respondents supported scrapping the practice. While the European Parliament supported the legislation in 2019, EU member state governments have failed to reach a consensus on whether summertime or wintertime should become the permanent standard, or how to coordinate the transition to avoid fragmented time zones.

Since 2001, an EU directive has required member states to synchronize clock changes to prevent complications in transport, communications, and cross-border activities. The practice was originally introduced during the 1970s oil crisis as an energy-saving measure.