FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
As Europeans prepare to switch to winter time this weekend, the European Commission is (again) advocating for the abolition of the clock change.
The EC had proposed its abolition back in 2018 after a wide-ranging consultation across Europe. 84% of participants, or nearly 4 million people, voted in favour of ending the practice, and Parliament subsequently gave the green light. But the measure was never implemented due to a lack of agreement among the 27 countries.
The six-month switch to winter or summer time was introduced in Europe in the 1970s to save energy during the oil crisis. Supporters of its abolition point to the negative impacts of the clock change in terms of health and road accidents, for the now modest energy savings, especially due to the widespread use of low-energy lighting.
On the occasion of the switch to winter time, MEPs brought up the issue again during a debate in the Strasbourg Chamber. "The time has come to finally put an end to the clock change," pleaded Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, confirming that the European executive had not given up the fight.
This system "affects us all, annoys most of us, and I would even say harms us," while "it doesn't even generate any energy savings," he explained.
The Commission has commissioned a new analysis to support its efforts to abolish the clock change.
Spain also launched a new call to scrap the clock change at a meeting of energy ministers on Monday. According to a European diplomatic source, Poland and Finland have supported the move.
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