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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

PETI-AD-629635

Committee on Petitions · Rapporteur: Cecilia Wikström

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The Committee on Petitions gives its opinion on the Commission proposal to end seasonal clock changes and repeal Directive 2000/84/EC. It proposes amendments to the recitals and articles, adding references to petitions and citizens' health concerns, and deleting the Commission's flexibility for Member States to decide their own standard time. It wants all Member States to apply a harmonised and coordinated time arrangement to the standard times of the Union, while retaining existing time zones. It proposes that the directive enter into force and be applied on the eighteenth month following its publication, and that Directive 2000/84/EC be repealed from that date.

Committee position. The committee proposes amendments to the Commission proposal to end seasonal clock changes, adding references to petitions and health concerns, deleting the flexibility for Member States to decide their own standard time, and requiring a harmonised and coordinated time arrangement.

Key points

  1. The committee supports ending bi-annual clock changes in a coordinated way to avoid adverse health effects and because alleged energy savings are not achieved.
  2. It argues that letting Member States decide unilaterally on standard time could create a patchwork of time zones and complicate cross-border trade, transport, communication and travel.
  3. Amendment 1 adds that the European Parliament's resolution built on petitions and demands from citizens and the Committee on Petitions, and confirms a harmonised and coordinated approach.
  4. Amendment 2 deletes the statement that evidence is not conclusive on whether summer-time benefits outweigh the inconveniences of the bi-annual change.
  5. Amendment 3 adds references to citizens' petitions, the public consultation, health concerns, effects on circadian rhythm, road safety and administrative burdens.
  6. Amendment 4 adds a new recital on the large north-south extension of the EU and the need to consider geographical aspects of time while retaining existing time zones.
  7. Amendment 5 deletes the recital allowing Member States to decide on standard time and requiring notification to the Commission.
  8. Amendment 6 adds that all Member States should apply the same time arrangement to avoid a patchwork, while retaining existing time zones.
  9. Amendment 7 changes the application date to the eighteenth month following publication, giving time for society and economic actors to adapt.
  10. Amendment 8 replaces Article 1 so that from [xx] Member States shall not apply any bi-annual change to time.
  11. Amendment 9 replaces Article 2 so that Member States shall apply a harmonised and coordinated time arrangement to the standard times of the Union.
  12. Amendments 10, 11 and 12 set the compliance deadline at the date of application, repeal Directive 2000/84/EC from the directive's entry into force, and set entry into force at the eighteenth month after publication.

Who is affected

  • EU Member States, which would have to apply a harmonised time arrangement and stop bi-annual clock changes.
  • Citizens, especially vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, whose health concerns are cited.
  • Sectors such as transport, communications, cross-border trade and travel, which could face disruption from diverging time arrangements.

Figures and deadlines

  • Around 4.6 million replies to the Commission's public consultation, of which 84% favoured discontinuing the bi-annual clock changes and 16% wanted to keep them.
  • More than 100 subject-related petitions received by the Committee on Petitions over the years.
  • The directive would enter into force and be applied on the eighteenth month following its publication in the Official Journal.

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