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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 discontinuing seasonal changes of time and repealing Directive 2000/84/EC

JURI-AD-632863

Committee on Legal Affairs · Rapporteur: Pavel Svoboda

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The Committee on Legal Affairs gives its opinion on the Commission's proposal to end seasonal clock changes and repeal Directive 2000/84/EC. It welcomes the proposal but wants Member States to choose their own standard time, with more time to prepare and a coordination mechanism. It proposes amendments: a new coordination mechanism of Member State representatives and the Commission, notification of intended standard times by 1 April 2020, and a Commission power to postpone application by up to 12 months. It also asks for a comprehensive impact assessment and a cost/benefit analysis, and moves the implementation report to 31 December 2025 with emphasis on health effects. Member States would have to adopt national laws by 2020, and Directive 2000/84/EC would be repealed from 2020.

Committee position. The Committee on Legal Affairs welcomes the proposal but proposes amendments: Member States should choose their own standard time, a coordination mechanism should be set up, notification should be by 1 April 2020, the Commission should be able to postpone application by up to 12 months, and an impact assessment and cost/benefit analysis should be conducted.

Key points

  1. The rapporteur welcomes ending seasonal time changes in a harmonised way in all Member States, responding to Parliament's earlier calls.
  2. The rapporteur says seasonal changes affect the internal market and raise public health concerns, including for minority groups, and that accidents and heart attacks increase after clock changes.
  3. The rapporteur opposes a directly applicable Regulation prescribing standard or summer time, saying Member States should be free to choose and should get more time to prepare.
  4. The rapporteur regrets the Commission did not conduct a proper impact assessment or a full 12-week public and stakeholder consultation.
  5. The rapporteur agrees the directive should be adopted as soon as possible, preferably before the end of the current legislature.
  6. Amendment 1 adds a citation to the Commission's online consultation of 4 July 2018 to 16 August 2018.
  7. Amendments 2 to 4 update recitals to mention petitions, the 4.6 million responses to the 2018 consultation, and evidence of negative health effects and economic costs.
  8. Amendments 5 to 10 add recitals on subsidiarity, a coordination mechanism, transition costs, delegated acts, and coordinating standard times to avoid different time zones.
  9. Amendment 11 requires the Commission's monitoring report to be sufficiently substantiated.
  10. Amendment 12 lets Member States still apply a seasonal change in 2019, with notification under Article 2.
  11. Amendments 13 to 16 set up a coordination mechanism, require Member States to notify intentions by 1 April 2020, and empower the Commission to postpone application by up to 12 months via delegated acts.
  12. Amendments 17 to 21 move the implementation report to 31 December 2025 with health emphasis, require an impact assessment and cost/benefit analysis, set the information deadline at five years after adoption, and move national compliance and repeal to 2020.

Who is affected

  • Member States: would choose their own standard time, notify the Commission by 1 April 2020, and coordinate via a new mechanism.
  • The Commission: would set up and participate in the coordination mechanism, monitor arrangements, and report to Parliament and the Council.
  • Citizens and civil society: the consultation received 4.6 million responses, and health effects are highlighted.
  • Transport and communications sectors: would face transition costs and disruptions if time arrangements diverge.

Figures and deadlines

  • 4.6 million responses to the Commission's July-August 2018 public consultation on summer-time arrangements.
  • 1 April 2020: deadline for Member States to notify the Commission of their intentions on standard time.
  • Up to 12 months: maximum postponement of the directive's application by delegated act.
  • 31 December 2025: deadline for the Commission's implementation report.
  • Five years after adoption: deadline for Member States to provide relevant information to the Commission.
  • 2020: deadline for Member States to adopt national laws and for repeal of Directive 2000/84/EC.

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