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DRAFT 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-PA-630764

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Ulrike Müller

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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development gives its draft opinion on the Commission proposal to discontinue seasonal changes of time. The rapporteur supports ending the bi-annual clock change but asks to postpone it to 2020 and to coordinate member states by time zone. The draft proposes returning to wintertime as the standard time, and warns that an uncoordinated approach could fragment the single market across the three time zones. It sets out six amendments to the proposal, including a new recital on livestock farmers, a new article on reverting to wintertime, and a new article on coordination by time zones.

Committee position. The rapporteur supports discontinuing the seasonal change of time but proposes postponing it to 2020, returning to wintertime as standard time, and coordinating member states by time zones. The committee calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism to take into account six amendments.

Key points

  1. The rapporteur supports the Commission proposal presented on 12 September 2018 to discontinue the seasonal change of time, following the public consultation and Parliament's call for an assessment.
  2. The rapporteur notes implications for citizens' and animals' health, for EU harmonisation, and a risk of fragmentation because member states choose their own standard time.
  3. The rapporteur notes that the Austrian presidency did not prioritise the issue and that transport ministers remained divided at their meetings in October and June 2018 and December 2017.
  4. The rapporteur considers an entry into force on 1 April 2019 too early and proposes postponing it to 2020 so member states can prepare and coordinate.
  5. The rapporteur proposes returning to wintertime as the standard time, since year-round summertime would technically be a change of time zone.
  6. The rapporteur proposes coordinating member states by groups of neighbouring countries in line with the three time zones (GMT +1, +2 and +3) to preserve the current state of play.
  7. Amendment 1 adds a recital stating that livestock farmers' concerns about summer time are now mostly addressed by modern equipment, while concerns about animals' biorhythm and farmers' working conditions remain.
  8. Amendment 2 changes Recital 7 so the directive applies from 1 April 2020, with the last summer-time period starting on 29 March 2020 and member states changing standard time on 31 October 2020.
  9. Amendment 3 allows member states to apply a seasonal change of standard time in 2020 at 1.00 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time on 31 October 2020, with notification under Article 2.
  10. Amendment 4 adds Article 2(1a) requiring member states, when abolishing the bi-annual time change, to revert to standard (winter-time) as a matter of principle.
  11. Amendment 5 adds Article 2a requiring coordination of the new time arrangements by grouping member states in line with the three time zones: GMT+1, GMT +2, GMT +3.
  12. Amendment 6 changes Article 4(1) so member states must adopt and publish the necessary laws, regulations and administrative provisions by 1 April 2020.

Who is affected

  • Member states, which would choose their standard time and must coordinate by time zone.
  • Livestock farmers, whose working conditions and animals' biorhythm are cited in the new recital.
  • Economic sectors and citizens, affected by different time arrangements and movements.

Figures and deadlines

  • 1 April 2019 — entry into force the rapporteur considers too early and wants postponed to 2020.
  • 1 April 2020 — date from which the directive should apply under Amendment 2.
  • 29 March 2020 — start of the last summer-time period under Amendment 2.
  • 31 October 2020 — date for changing standard time under Amendments 2 and 3.
  • 1 April 2020 — deadline for member states to adopt and publish implementing provisions under Amendment 6.
  • GMT +1, +2 and +3 — the three time zones over which member states' territories stretch.