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DRAFT OPINION (COM(2018)0639 – C80408/2018 – 2018/0332(COD))

On the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council discontinuing seasonal changes of time and repealing Directive 2000/84/EC

ENVI-PA-631995

Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Bolesław G. Piecha

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The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety gives its draft opinion on the proposed directive discontinuing seasonal changes of time and repealing Directive 2000/84/EC. The rapporteur notes that the health effects of time changes are still unclear and that Member States should decide on their own standard time in a harmonised way. The draft proposes nine amendments: four new recitals on the public consultation, studies on health effects, chronobiology and energy savings, and changes postponing the directive's dates from 2019 to 2020.

Committee position. The rapporteur welcomes the Commission's initiative but refrains from imposing decisions on Member States, signals potential health-related aspects, and proposes nine amendments: four new recitals and a postponement of the directive's dates from 2019 to 2020.

Key points

  1. The rapporteur says the impact of time changes on human health is still unclear and needs further in-depth research on adaptation.
  2. The rapporteur wants a large scale of choice on changing time left to Member States according to their interests.
  3. The rapporteur signals health-related aspects of the proposal but refrains from imposing decisions on Member States, in line with subsidiarity in health policy.
  4. The rapporteur says scarce empirical data and no common Member State positions limit a decision, and suggests the negotiations be slightly postponed.
  5. Amendment 1 adds a recital that the public consultation showed a vast majority of stakeholders favour discontinuing seasonal time changes, mainly because of health impacts (43%) and lack of energy savings (20%).
  6. Amendment 2 adds a recital on studies linking the switch to summer time with risks such as heart attacks, disrupted body rhythm, sleep deprivation and accidents, and on positive long-term effects of longer daylight.
  7. Amendment 3 adds a recital that chronobiology shows time changes affect the internal body clock, with the spring change particularly at stake, though evidence is far from conclusive.
  8. Amendment 4 adds a recital that seasonal time changes may be marginally beneficial for energy consumption in the Union as a whole but not in every Member State, with results influenced by external factors.
  9. Amendment 5 changes Recital 7 so the directive applies from 30 March 2020, the last summer-time period starts at 1.00 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time on 30 March 2020, and Member States changing standard time do so at 1.00 a.m. on 25 October 2020.
  10. Amendment 6 changes Article 1(2) so Member States may still apply a seasonal change in 2020 at 1.00 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time on 25 October 2020, and must notify this decision.
  11. Amendments 7 and 8 change Article 4(1) so Member States must adopt and publish compliance provisions by 30 March 2020 and apply them from that date.
  12. Amendment 9 changes Article 5(1) so Directive 2000/84/EC is repealed with effect from 30 March 2020.

Who is affected

  • Member States: may still apply a seasonal time change in 2020 and must notify the decision; must adopt and publish compliance provisions by 30 March 2020.
  • The Commission: receives notification of Member States' decisions and the text of national compliance provisions.
  • The Committee on Transport and Tourism, as committee responsible: is asked to take the amendments into account.

Figures and deadlines

  • 76% of respondents to the public consultation stated a negative experience with the switch from wintertime to summertime.
  • 43% of answers were related to health issues and health concerns.
  • 20% of answers were justified by lack of energy savings.
  • Clocks are advanced by one hour on the last Sunday of March and set back by one hour on the last Sunday of October.
  • The directive should apply from 30 March 2020.
  • The last summer-time period starts at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 30 March 2020.
  • Member States changing standard time should do so at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 25 October 2020.
  • Member States may still apply a seasonal change in 2020 at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 25 October 2020.