opinion parliamentary committee, 21 February 2019

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

Document PETI-AD-629635 · (COM(2018)0639 – C80408/2018 – 2018/0332(COD))

Committee on Petitions · Rapporteur: Cecilia Wikström

Where the law stands · dossier 2018/0332 →

AI:In short

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enter into force and be applied on the eighteenth month following its publication, and that Directive 2000/84/EC be repealed from that date.

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

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.
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.
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.
Amendment 2 deletes the statement that evidence is not conclusive on whether summer-time benefits outweigh the inconveniences of the bi-annual change.
Amendment 3 adds references to citizens' petitions, the public consultation, health concerns, effects on circadian rhythm, road safety and administrative burdens.
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.
Amendment 5 deletes the recital allowing Member States to decide on standard time and requiring notification to the Commission.
Amendment 6 adds that all Member States should apply the same time arrangement to avoid a patchwork, while retaining existing time zones.
Amendment 7 changes the application date to the eighteenth month following publication, giving time for society and economic actors to adapt.
Amendment 8 replaces Article 1 so that from [xx] Member States shall not apply any bi-annual change to time.
Amendment 9 replaces Article 2 so that Member States shall apply a harmonised and coordinated time arrangement to the standard times of the Union.
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

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Full text

Jump to an amendment (12)

Amendment 1
Amendment 2
Amendment 3
Amendment 4
Amendment 5
Amendment 6
Amendment 7
Amendment 8
Amendment 9
Amendment 10
Amendment 11
Amendment 12

Text 4 paragraphs

Committee on Petitions

2018/0332(COD)

20.2.2019

OPINION

Short justification 57 paragraphs

The proposal aims at ending seasonal changes of time amongst EU Member States. EU legislation on summertime arrangements was first introduced in 1980 with the objective of unifying existing national summertime practices and schedules. Since 2001, EU summertime arrangements have been governed by Directive 2000/84/EC setting out the obligation on all Member States to switch to summertime on the last Sunday of March and to switch back to their standard time ("winter-time") on the last Sunday of October.

The system of bi-annual clock changes has been increasingly questioned, by citizens, by the European Parliament, and by a growing number of Member States.

In its resolution of 8 February 2018, the European Parliament asked the Commission to carry out an assessment of summertime arrangements as provided for in Directive 2000/84/EC and, where appropriate, to submit a proposal for revision. The European Commission has also carried out a public consultation, which generated around 4.6 million replies, the largest amount of responses ever received in any Commission consultation, of which 84% were in favour of discontinuing the bi-annual clock changes, while 16% wanted to keep them.

Furthermore, summertime arrangements are a recurring topic in the work of the Committee on Petitions (PETI), which has received more than 100 subject-related petitions over the years. Almost all petitioners advocate the abolition of bi-annual clock changes, arguing primarily on the basis of health concerns and its margin effects on energy savings. Some petitioners maintain that the clock change has a particularly negative impact on vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly. PETI has discussed daylight saving time (DST) related petitions in its committee meetings, in July 2015 and November 2017.

As stated in the European Parliamentary Research Service study of October 2017 on EU summertime arrangements under Directive 2000/84/EC, the existence of negative effects on human health caused by these changes should be taken into consideration to put an end to EU bi-annual clock changes. As a clear example of the importance of the discussion of the effect of DST on the body clock, the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm, explaining the human internal, biological clock and how our wellbeing is affected by a mismatch between our external environment and internal biological clock. That is to say, chronobiological research findings suggest that the effect on human biorhythm may be more severe than previously thought. Moreover, on the basis of paragraph 8 of article 114 TFEU, on the approximation of laws, “When a Member State raises a specific problem on public health in a field which has been the subject of prior harmonisation measures, it shall bring it to the attention of the Commission which shall immediately examine whether to propose appropriate measures to the Council”.

Against this background, the draft opinion seeks to support the idea that the arrangements for bi-annual clock changes should be terminated in a coordinated manner in order to avoid any potentially adverse health effects and taking into account that the alleged energy savings are not achieved.

The draft opinion suggests that a removal of the bi-annual clock change should be done in a way to avoid any major disruption to the internal market caused by the divergences between Member States in this area. The rapporteur argues that the original Commission proposal, which gives the Member States the opportunity to decide unilaterally on their preferences of standard time, could create a situation where a patchwork of time zones appears between the Member States, making the internal market more divergent. It would make cross-border trade, transport, communication and travel more complicated within the internal market. To ensure harmonisation, the rapporteur therefore proposes the abolition of bi-annual clock changes, as almost all petitioners have advocated.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Petitions calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

Amendment 1

Proposal for a directive

Recital 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission(2) In its resolution of 8 February 2018, the European Parliament called on the Commission to conduct an assessment of the summer-time arrangements provided by Directive 2000/84/EC and, if necessary, to come up with a proposal for its revision. That resolution also confirmed that it is essential to maintain a harmonised approach to time arrangements throughout the Union.	Amendment(2) In its resolution of 8 February 2018, building on petitions and demands received from the citizens, by the Committee on Petitions, the European Parliament called on the Commission to conduct an assessment of the summer-time arrangements provided by Directive 2000/84/EC and, if necessary, to come up with a proposal for its revision. That resolution also confirmed that it is essential to maintain a harmonised and co-ordinated approach to time arrangements throughout the Union.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(2) In its resolution of 8 February 2018, the European Parliament called on the Commission to conduct an assessment of the summer-time arrangements provided by Directive 2000/84/EC and, if necessary, to come up with a proposal for its revision. That resolution also confirmed that it is essential to maintain a harmonised approach to time arrangements throughout the Union.

(2) In its resolution of 8 February 2018, building on petitions and demands received from the citizens, by the Committee on Petitions, the European Parliament called on the Commission to conduct an assessment of the summer-time arrangements provided by Directive 2000/84/EC and, if necessary, to come up with a proposal for its revision. That resolution also confirmed that it is essential to maintain a harmonised and co-ordinated approach to time arrangements throughout the Union.

Amendment 2

Proposal for a directive

Recital 3

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission(3) The Commission has examined available evidence, which points to the importance of having harmonised Union rules in this area to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market and avoid, inter alia, disruptions to the scheduling of transport operations and the functioning of information and communication systems, higher costs to cross-border trade, or lower productivity for goods and services. Evidence is not conclusive as to whether the benefits of summer-time arrangements outweigh the inconveniences linked to a biannual change of time.	Amendment(3) The Commission has examined available evidence, which points to the importance of having harmonised Union rules in this area to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market and avoid, inter alia, disruptions to the scheduling of transport operations and the functioning of information and communication systems, higher costs to cross-border trade, or lower productivity for goods and services.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3) The Commission has examined available evidence, which points to the importance of having harmonised Union rules in this area to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market and avoid, inter alia, disruptions to the scheduling of transport operations and the functioning of information and communication systems, higher costs to cross-border trade, or lower productivity for goods and services. Evidence is not conclusive as to whether the benefits of summer-time arrangements outweigh the inconveniences linked to a biannual change of time.

Amendment 3

Proposal for a directive

Recital 4

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission(4) A lively public debate is taking place on summer-time arrangements and some Member States have already expressed their preference to discontinue the application of such arrangements. In the light of these developments, it is necessary to continue safeguarding the proper functioning of the internal market and to avoid any significant disruptions thereto caused by divergences between Member States in this area. Therefore, it is appropriate to put an end in a coordinated way to summer-time arrangements.	Amendment(4) A lively public debate is taking place on summer-time arrangements, as seen by the citizens' response through the petitions lodged calling for an end to the bi-annual change in time, and the public consultation on EU summertime arrangements, which generated the largest amount of responses ever received in any Commission consultation. Some Member States have already expressed their preference to discontinue the application of such arrangements. In the light of these developments, it is necessary to continue safeguarding the proper functioning of the internal market and to avoid any significant disruptions thereto caused by divergences between Member States in this area, which could impact both the economic and political integration of the Union. Many citizens have advocated putting an end to seasonal clock changes, primarily based on health concerns. In the petitions received by the European Parliament, citizens maintain that the clock change has a particularly negative impact on vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly. Furthermore, several studies have shown, that negative consequences exist related to the bi-annual change of time in various areas, such as health issues with effects on the circadian rhythm ; road safety whereas an increase in the accident rate in the days following the change in time has been observed; and, administrative burdens and additional costs for many sectors within the economy. Therefore, it is crucial to have a harmonized approach that is well-coordinated to put an end to the bi-annual changes of time.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4) A lively public debate is taking place on summer-time arrangements and some Member States have already expressed their preference to discontinue the application of such arrangements. In the light of these developments, it is necessary to continue safeguarding the proper functioning of the internal market and to avoid any significant disruptions thereto caused by divergences between Member States in this area. Therefore, it is appropriate to put an end in a coordinated way to summer-time arrangements.

(4) A lively public debate is taking place on summer-time arrangements, as seen by the citizens' response through the petitions lodged calling for an end to the bi-annual change in time, and the public consultation on EU summertime arrangements, which generated the largest amount of responses ever received in any Commission consultation. Some Member States have already expressed their preference to discontinue the application of such arrangements. In the light of these developments, it is necessary to continue safeguarding the proper functioning of the internal market and to avoid any significant disruptions thereto caused by divergences between Member States in this area, which could impact both the economic and political integration of the Union. Many citizens have advocated putting an end to seasonal clock changes, primarily based on health concerns. In the petitions received by the European Parliament, citizens maintain that the clock change has a particularly negative impact on vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly. Furthermore, several studies have shown, that negative consequences exist related to the bi-annual change of time in various areas, such as health issues with effects on the circadian rhythm ; road safety whereas an increase in the accident rate in the days following the change in time has been observed; and, administrative burdens and additional costs for many sectors within the economy. Therefore, it is crucial to have a harmonized approach that is well-coordinated to put an end to the bi-annual changes of time.

Amendment 4

Proposal for a directive

Recital 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment(4 a) It is crucial to take into consideration the large north-south extension of the European Union meaning that daylight effects of time vary across the European Union. As such we must consider the geographical aspects of time, while retaining the existing time zones.

Amendment 5

Proposal for a directive

Recital 5

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission(5) This Directive should not prejudice the right of each Member State to decide on the standard time or times for the territories under its jurisdiction and falling under the territorial scope of the Treaties, and on further changes thereto. However, in order to ensure that the application of summer-time arrangements by some Member States only does not disrupt the functioning of the internal market, Member States should refrain from changing the standard time in any given territory under their jurisdiction for reasons related to seasonal changes, be such change presented as a change of time zone. Moreover, in order to minimise disruptions, inter alia, to transport, communications and other concerned sectors, they should notify the Commission in due time of their intention to change their standard time and subsequently apply the notified changes. The Commission should, on the basis of that notification, inform all other Member States so that they can take all necessary measures. It should also inform the general public and stakeholders by publishing this information.	Amendmentdeleted

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(5) This Directive should not prejudice the right of each Member State to decide on the standard time or times for the territories under its jurisdiction and falling under the territorial scope of the Treaties, and on further changes thereto. However, in order to ensure that the application of summer-time arrangements by some Member States only does not disrupt the functioning of the internal market, Member States should refrain from changing the standard time in any given territory under their jurisdiction for reasons related to seasonal changes, be such change presented as a change of time zone. Moreover, in order to minimise disruptions, inter alia, to transport, communications and other concerned sectors, they should notify the Commission in due time of their intention to change their standard time and subsequently apply the notified changes. The Commission should, on the basis of that notification, inform all other Member States so that they can take all necessary measures. It should also inform the general public and stakeholders by publishing this information.

deleted

Amendment 6

Proposal for a directive

Recital 6

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission(6) Therefore, it is necessary to put an end to the harmonisation of the period covered by summer-time arrangements as laid down in Directive 2000/84/EC and to introduce common rules preventing Member States from applying different seasonal time arrangements by changing their standard time more than once during the year and establishing the obligation to notify envisaged changes of the standard time. This Directive aims at contributing in a determined manner to the smooth functioning of the internal market and should, consequently, be based on Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as interpreted in accordance with the consistent case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.	Amendment(6) Therefore, it is necessary to put an end to the harmonisation of the period covered by summer-time arrangements as laid down in Directive 2000/84/EC and to introduce common rules preventing Member States from applying different seasonal time arrangements by changing their standard time more than once during the year and establishing the obligation to notify envisaged changes of the standard time. For the smooth functioning of the internal market, it is essential that while the existing time zones are retained, all Member States should apply the same time arrangement, in order to avoid a patchwork of time arrangements within the internal market. This Directive aims at contributing in a determined manner to the smooth functioning of the internal market and should, consequently, be based on Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as interpreted in accordance with the consistent case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(6) Therefore, it is necessary to put an end to the harmonisation of the period covered by summer-time arrangements as laid down in Directive 2000/84/EC and to introduce common rules preventing Member States from applying different seasonal time arrangements by changing their standard time more than once during the year and establishing the obligation to notify envisaged changes of the standard time. This Directive aims at contributing in a determined manner to the smooth functioning of the internal market and should, consequently, be based on Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as interpreted in accordance with the consistent case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

(6) Therefore, it is necessary to put an end to the harmonisation of the period covered by summer-time arrangements as laid down in Directive 2000/84/EC and to introduce common rules preventing Member States from applying different seasonal time arrangements by changing their standard time more than once during the year and establishing the obligation to notify envisaged changes of the standard time. For the smooth functioning of the internal market, it is essential that while the existing time zones are retained, all Member States should apply the same time arrangement, in order to avoid a patchwork of time arrangements within the internal market. This Directive aims at contributing in a determined manner to the smooth functioning of the internal market and should, consequently, be based on Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as interpreted in accordance with the consistent case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Amendment 7

Proposal for a directive

Recital 7

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission(7) This Directive should apply from 1 April 2019, so that the last summer-time period subject to the rules of Directive 2000/84/EC should start, in every Member State, at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 31 March 2019. Member States that, after that summer-time period, intend to adopt a standard time corresponding to the time applied during the winter season in accordance with Directive 2000/84/EC should change their standard time at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 27 October 2019, so that similar and lasting changes occurring in different Member States take place simultaneously. It is desirable that Member States take the decisions on the standard time that each of them will apply as from 2019 in a concerted manner.	Amendment(7) This Directive should enter into force and be applied on the eighteenth month following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, giving sufficient time for the society and economical actors to adapt to the new situation. For the smooth functioning of the internal market, it is crucial to avoid a patchwork of time arrangements within the internal market. The Member States should therefore agree on a harmonised time arrangement of standard times in the EU.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(7) This Directive should apply from 1 April 2019, so that the last summer-time period subject to the rules of Directive 2000/84/EC should start, in every Member State, at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 31 March 2019. Member States that, after that summer-time period, intend to adopt a standard time corresponding to the time applied during the winter season in accordance with Directive 2000/84/EC should change their standard time at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 27 October 2019, so that similar and lasting changes occurring in different Member States take place simultaneously. It is desirable that Member States take the decisions on the standard time that each of them will apply as from 2019 in a concerted manner.

(7) This Directive should enter into force and be applied on the eighteenth month following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, giving sufficient time for the society and economical actors to adapt to the new situation. For the smooth functioning of the internal market, it is crucial to avoid a patchwork of time arrangements within the internal market. The Member States should therefore agree on a harmonised time arrangement of standard times in the EU.

Amendment 8

Proposal for a directive

Article 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission1. Member States shall not apply seasonal changes to their standard time or times. 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, Member States may still apply a seasonal change of their standard time or times in 2019, provided that they do so at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 27 October 2019. The Member States shall notify this decision in accordance with Article 2.	Amendment1. From [xx] Member States shall not apply any bi-annual change to time. 2. Deleted

Amendment 9

Proposal for a directive

Article 2

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission1. Without prejudice to Article 1, if a Member State decides to change its standard time or times in any territory under its jurisdiction, it shall notify the Commission at least 6 months before the change takes effect. Where a Member State has made such a notification and has not withdrawn it at least 6 months before the date of the envisaged change, the Member State shall apply this change. 2. Within 1 month of the notification, the Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof and publish that information in the Official Journal of the European Union.	Amendment1. In accordance with Article 1, Member States shall apply a harmonised and coordinated time arrangement to the standard times of the Union. 2. Deleted

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Without prejudice to Article 1, if a Member State decides to change its standard time or times in any territory under its jurisdiction, it shall notify the Commission at least 6 months before the change takes effect. Where a Member State has made such a notification and has not withdrawn it at least 6 months before the date of the envisaged change, the Member State shall apply this change. 2. Within 1 month of the notification, the Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof and publish that information in the Official Journal of the European Union.

1. In accordance with Article 1, Member States shall apply a harmonised and coordinated time arrangement to the standard times of the Union. 2. Deleted

Amendment 10

Proposal for a directive

Article 4 paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the Commission1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 1 April 2019 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions. They shall apply those provisions from 1 April 2019. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.	Amendment1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by [date of application of the Directive] at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions. They shall apply those provisions according to Article 1 of this Directive. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 1 April 2019 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions. They shall apply those provisions from 1 April 2019. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by [date of application of the Directive] at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions. They shall apply those provisions according to Article 1 of this Directive. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

Amendment 11

Proposal for a directive

Article 5

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionDirective 2000/84/EC is repealed with effect from 1 April 2019.	AmendmentDirective 2000/84/EC is repealed with effect from the entering into force of the Directive on discontinuing seasonal changes of time.

Amendment 12

Proposal for a directive

Article 6

Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Text proposed by the CommissionThis Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.	AmendmentThis Directive shall enter into force and be applied on the eighteenth month following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Procedure pages

How the committees handled the text, and how their members voted on it.

Procedure – committee asked for opinion 1 paragraph

Title	Discontinuing seasonal changes of time
References	COM(2018)0639 – C8-0408/2018 – 2018/0332(COD)
Committee responsible Date announced in plenary	TRAN 13.9.2018
Opinion by Date announced in plenary	PETI 25.10.2018
Rapporteur Date appointed	Cecilia Wikström 24.9.2018

Final vote by roll call in committee asked for opinion 6 paragraphs

14 · For

ALDE: Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Ilhan Kyuchyuk
EPP: Pál Csáky, Svetoslav Hristov Malinov, Lukas Mandl, Roberta Metsola, László Tőkés, Jarosław Wałęsa, Rainer Wieland
S&D: Soledad Cabezón Ruiz, Jude Kirton-Darling, Marlene Mizzi, Gabriele Preuß
VERTS/ALE: Igor Šoltes

4 · Against

ECR: Notis Marias
S&D: Virginie Rozière
VERTS/ALE: Margrete Auken, Ana Miranda

1 · Abstained

GUE/NGL: Takis Hadjigeorgiou

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

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

AIAI:In short

Key points

Who is affected

Figures and deadlines

Full text

Amendment 1

Amendment 2

Amendment 3

Amendment 4

Amendment 5

Amendment 6

Amendment 7

Amendment 8

Amendment 9

Amendment 10

Amendment 11

Amendment 12

Procedure pages

AI:In short