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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

JURI-PA-632863

Committee on Legal Affairs · Rapporteur: Pavel Svoboda

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The Committee on Legal Affairs gives its draft opinion on the Commission's proposal for a directive to end seasonal clock changes and repeal Directive 2000/84/EC. The rapporteur welcomes ending seasonal time changes in a harmonised way, but says Member States should choose their own standard time rather than have the EU prescribe one. The rapporteur regrets the Commission did not carry out a proper impact assessment or a full 12-week public consultation, and agrees the directive should be adopted as soon as possible. The committee proposes amendments to postpone the directive's application from 2019 to 2021, add references to petitions and health studies, and require Member States to decide on standard time in a concerted and coordinated manner.

Committee position. The Committee on Legal Affairs proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal: postpone application from 2019 to 2021, add references to petitions and health studies, and require Member States to decide on standard time in a concerted and coordinated manner. It calls for the directive to be adopted as soon as possible.

Key points

  1. The rapporteur welcomes the Commission's proposal to end seasonal time changes in a harmonised manner in all Member States.
  2. The rapporteur says seasonal time 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 says a directly applicable Regulation prescribing standard or summer time in all Member States would be over-reaching, and Member States should be free to choose, with 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. The committee calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism to take into account its amendments.
  7. Amendment 1 adds references to petitions from citizens, parliamentary questions and a public hearing, and to Parliament's resolution of 8 February 2018.
  8. Amendment 2 adds that evidence is not conclusive on summer-time benefits, but numerous scientific studies, including the European Parliamentary Research Service study of October 2017, indicate negative effects on human health.
  9. Amendment 3 postpones the directive's application from 1 April 2019 to 1 April 2021, and the last summer-time period start from 31 March 2019 to 31 March 2021.
  10. Amendment 3 also moves the date for Member States to change their standard time from 27 October 2019 to 27 October 2021, and requires decisions to be taken in a concerted and coordinated manner.
  11. Amendment 4 allows Member States to apply a seasonal change in 2021 instead of 2019, at 1.00 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time on 27 October 2021, with notification under Article 2.
  12. Amendments 5 to 7 move the deadlines for Member States to adopt and publish implementing provisions, apply them, and repeal Directive 2000/84/EC from 1 April 2019 to 1 April 2021.

Who is affected

  • Member States, which would choose their own standard time and must notify decisions and adopt implementing provisions.
  • Citizens and civil society, whose opposition and petitions are cited as background.
  • Specific minority groups disproportionately affected by disruption of the circadian cycle.
  • The Commission, which is asked to conduct an impact assessment and consultation.

Figures and deadlines

  • 1 April 2021, the date from which the directive should apply.
  • 31 March 2021, the start of the last summer-time period under Directive 2000/84/EC.
  • 27 October 2021, the date for changing standard time.
  • 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, the time for the changes.
  • 12 weeks, the length of the public and stakeholder consultation the rapporteur says was not held.
  • 8 February 2018, the date of Parliament's resolution.
  • October 2017, the date of the European Parliamentary Research Service study.
  • 1 April 2021, the deadline for Member States to adopt and publish implementing provisions and to repeal Directive 2000/84/EC.