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OPINION (COM(2018)639 – C80408/2018 – 2018/0332(COD))

On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on discontinuing seasonal changes of time

AGRI-AD-630764

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Ulrike Müller

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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development gives its opinion on the Commission proposal to discontinue seasonal clock changes. It supports ending the bi-annual change but asks to postpone the start from 1 April 2019 to 1 April 2020. It proposes that member states jointly choose either permanent standard time or permanent summer time across the Union, and that they coordinate time zone changes by groups of neighbouring countries. It also proposes returning to wintertime as the standard time, and adds that member states should consult each other and coordinate any time zone changes.

Committee position. The committee supports discontinuing seasonal clock changes but asks the lead committee to amend the proposal: postpone the start to 2020, return to wintertime as standard time, and coordinate member states by neighbouring groups and time zones.

Key points

  1. The committee supports the Commission proposal to discontinue the seasonal change of time, following the public consultation that showed strong citizen support for abolishing the bi-annual clock change.
  2. It notes that discontinuing the change affects citizens' and animals' health, and that member states' territories span three time zones (GMT 0, +1 and +2), so an uncoordinated approach could disrupt the single market.
  3. It proposes postponing the entry into force from 1 April 2019 to 2020, because the current date is too early for member states to prepare and coordinate.
  4. It proposes returning to wintertime as the standard time, since year-round summertime would technically be a change of time zone.
  5. It proposes coordinating member states by groups of neighbouring countries, in line with the time zones, to preserve the current situation.
  6. Amendment 1 adds that the resolution confirmed it is essential to maintain a harmonised approach to time arrangements throughout the Union.
  7. Amendment 2 adds that harmonised Union rules create legal certainty and long-term dependability, and that evidence shows the benefits of summer-time arrangements do not outweigh the inconveniences of the biannual change.
  8. Amendment 3 adds that modern agricultural equipment and practices have made most earlier concerns about summer time no longer relevant, while concerns about animals' biorhythm and farmers' working conditions remain.
  9. Amendment 4 adds that national action groups and specialists from human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, education and tourism assessed the adverse effects of the yearly clock change.
  10. Amendment 5 adds that member states should be given time and opportunity to carry out their own public consultations and impact assessments on discontinuing seasonal time changes.
  11. Amendment 6 adds that member states shall consult each other and coordinate any time zone changes to avoid impractical time zones and burdensome disruptions to the internal market.
  12. Amendment 9 adds that member states shall jointly choose either permanent standard time or permanent summer time to apply across the Union, to avoid a patchwork of times.

Who is affected

  • Member states: they would jointly choose a permanent time and coordinate any time zone changes.
  • The agricultural sector: the amendments cite effects on livestock farmers, animals' biorhythm and agricultural productivity.
  • Citizens: the text cites public support for abolishing the clock change and concerns raised by citizens' initiatives.
  • The Commission: it would be notified of member states' intentions to change standard time and would inform other member states and the public.

Figures and deadlines

  • 1 April 2019: the date the committee says is too early and proposes postponing to 2020.
  • 1 April 2020: the proposed new date of application, replacing 1 April 2019.
  • 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 29 March 2020: the start of the last summer-time period under Directive 2000/84/EC.
  • 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 31 October 2020: when member states adopting wintertime as standard time should change their standard time.
  • GMT 0, +1 and +2: the three time zones the member states' territories span.