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OPINION (COM(2018)0639 – 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 and repealing Directive 2000/84/EC

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Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Igor Šoltes

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The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection gives its opinion on the Commission proposal to end the twice-yearly clock changes and repeal Directive 2000/84/EC. It welcomes the proposal and proposes amendments to delay application by one year, to 30 March 2020, and to set up a coordination mechanism among member states and the Commission. It wants member states to notify and coordinate any change of standard time, to consult citizens and stakeholders, and to assess the impact on the internal market. It proposes that the Commission report on implementation after four years instead of five.

Committee position. The committee calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism to take into account its amendments, which delay application by one year, set up a coordination mechanism, require notification and assessment of time changes, and shorten the evaluation period to four years.

Key points

  1. The rapporteur welcomes the Commission proposal to discontinue the twice-yearly clock change, in line with Parliament's February 2018 resolution and citizens' views.
  2. Studies and reports show negative consequences of the clock change, including health risks from disturbed circadian rhythms, higher accident rates, administrative burden and costs for economic sectors.
  3. A Commission public consultation in summer 2018 received 4.6 million replies, 99.8% from citizens and 0.2% from stakeholders or businesses, with 84% in favour of discontinuing the clock change.
  4. Member states' territories are grouped into three time zones (GMT, GMT+1 and GMT+2), so geographical aspects and natural time zones must be considered when deciding on permanent time.
  5. A harmonised approach to time arrangements is needed to safeguard the internal market and avoid a 'patchwork quilt' of multiple 60-minute time changes across the bloc.
  6. The rapporteur proposes delaying the date of application by one year to let member states coordinate and consult stakeholders and citizens.
  7. A coordination mechanism of one representative per member state and one from the Commission should mediate where a member state's time change raises concerns from others and affects the internal market.
  8. Member states should refrain from changing standard time for seasonal reasons, and any member state intending to change its standard time must notify the Commission and all other member states at least 9 months before the change takes effect.
  9. The Commission should publish notified information in the Official Journal without delay and, within 1 month of a notification, convene a meeting of the coordination mechanism.
  10. No later than 4 months before the envisaged change, the notifying member state must decide whether to repeal or maintain its decision, and if it maintains it, explain how it addresses the negative internal market impact.
  11. The Commission should report to Parliament and the Council on implementation after 4 years, with member states providing relevant information after 3 years.
  12. Member states must adopt and publish compliance laws by 30 March 2020 and apply them from that date, when Directive 2000/84/EC is repealed.

Who is affected

  • Member states, which must coordinate time changes, notify the Commission and other member states, and consult citizens and stakeholders.
  • The Commission, which must publish notifications, convene coordination meetings and report on implementation.
  • Citizens and stakeholders, who are to be consulted before time zone changes.
  • Sectors such as transport, communications and cross-border trade, which could face disruptions from uncoordinated time changes.

Figures and deadlines

  • 4.6 million replies to the Commission's public consultation in summer 2018.
  • 99.8% of consultation replies came from citizens.
  • 0.2% of consultation replies came from stakeholders or businesses.
  • 84% of consultation respondents favoured discontinuing the clock change.
  • Three time zones: GMT, GMT+1 and GMT+2.
  • Application date of 30 March 2020.
  • Last summer-time period starts at 1.00 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time on 29 March 2020.
  • Member states changing standard time should do so at 1.00 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time on 25 October 2020.

Legal basis: Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union