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Not least due to the pandemic, it is still unclear how the time change in the EU will continue. The ball still rests with the EU Council of Ministers, which last discussed the abolition of the biannual time change in June 2019, and transport ministers are responsible. In March 2019, the European Parliament voted by a large majority in favor of the abolition of daylight saving time in 2021, or a year later if there were difficulties for the internal market. However, most member states have yet to agree to this for this to become a reality. In view of the many current challenges, MEPs no longer expect the Council to address them before spring 2021.
84 percent outside of summer time
The abolition process started with an online survey across the EU. Given this, 84 percent of the participants had spoken in favor of the time change. Most of them voted for permanent daylight saving time in 2018. 4.6 million responses were received, including three million from Germany alone, a record, but still less than one percent from EU citizens.
- We are interested in your opinion – vote!
Then the EU Commission proposed to abolish the change between summer and winter time from 2019. Instead, states should be able to decide for themselves whether they want permanent summer or winter time. But there were concerns about this plan in many countries, as a uniform time zone appears to be desirable for the economy, at least in Central Europe. Otherwise, time differences between states would further affect trade. Official Austria prefers constant daylight saving time as standard time.
Save energy as background
Across the EU, the watch was filmed on the last Sunday in March and again on the last Sunday in October. Daylight saving time was introduced in Europe in 1973 due to the oil crisis and with the aim of saving energy. With the time difference, one hour of natural light should be gained for businesses and homes. France started then.
Austria did not decide to introduce it until 1979 due to administrative problems and because it wanted traffic-related harmonization with Switzerland and Germany. These two countries did not introduce daylight saving time until 1980. However, daylight saving time already existed in the Alpine republic during the First World War. In 1916 it was valid for the monarchy from May 1 to September 30, but was later suspended. A second attempt, ultimately unsuccessful, was made between 1940 and 1948.
