Commission proposed to end seasonal clock changes

On September 12, 2018, the European Commission proposed to end seasonal clock changes in Europe in 2019, giving Member States the freedom to decide once and for all whether they want to permanently apply summertime or wintertime.

The last mandatory change to summertime would take place on Sunday 31 March 2019. After this, the Member States wishing to permanently switch back to wintertime would still be able to make one last seasonal clock change on Sunday 27 October 2019. Following that date, seasonal clock changes would no longer be possible. 

European countries introduced summertime arrangements in the last century to save energy, particularly in times of war or during the oil crisis of the 1970s. Starting in 1980, EU gradually adopted legislation putting an end to the diverging schedules of the national clock changes.
 
In 2018 however, the purpose of clock changes has become much less relevant, with studies suggesting that energy savings are now marginal and citizens increasingly complaining about negative health impacts.
 
Commission held a public consultation in summer 2018 which received 4.6 million responses. 84% of respondents were in favour of ending seasonal clock changes.