Subject files - Discontinuing seasonal changes of time - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection

On 18.09.2018, the EC put forward a proposal for a Directive aimed at discontinuing seasonal changes of time and repealing Directive 2000/84/EC, which governs the EU summer-time arrangements since 2001 and imposes the obligation on all Member States (MS) to switch to “summer-time” on the last Sunday of March and to switch back to their standard time (“winter-time”) on the last Sunday of October. The EC proposes to discontinue this seasonal time changes in the Union, while ensuring that MS retain

the competence to decide on their standard time (i.e. Greenwich Mean Time (GTM), GTM+1 or GTM+2), in particular. MS are expected to decide notably on whether they will move to the standard time corresponding to their "summer-time" on a permanent basis or whether they will apply their current standard time permanently.

The objective of the proposal is to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market. The proposal takes into account the EP Resolution of 8.02.2018 asking the EC to conduct a thorough assessment of the Directive and, if necessary, come up with a proposal for its revision.

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. MS that prefer to keep their standard time (winter time), could change the clocks for the last time on the last Sunday in October 2021. This would not modify EU countries' right to decide on their standard time.