EU To Stop Changing the Clocks in October 2019 (dw.com)

European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc last week announced that the EU will stop the twice-yearly changing of clocks across the continent in October 2019. From a report: The practice, which was used as a means to conserve energy during the World Wars as well as the oil crises of the 1970s, became law across the bloc in 1996. All EU countries are required to move forward by an hour on the last Sunday of March and back by an hour on the final Sunday in October. Bulc said EU member states would have until April 2019 to decide whether they would permanently remain on summer or winter time. [...] "In order to maintain a harmonised approach we are encouraging consultations at national levels to ensure a coordinated approach of all member states," Bulc said. The decision to tackle the issue was prompted after the Commission launched an online survey. Some 4.6 million Europeans answered the survey -- three million of those respondents were from Germany -- with 80 percent of them voting to scrap the practice .

Comments

Damn - one year too late

[mccalli]

October 2018 (obviously impossible) would have enshrined this into the UK transitional period too. Haven't heard anything about what the UK will do - am really hoping we stop changing as well.

I responded to the survey voting for 'stop changing', so I'm happy with this.

Re:Damn - one year too late

[GNious]

According to Daily Mail, this change is only introduced to drive a wedge between UK and Ireland.
Based on their reasoning, the UK will not be following EU on this matter.

Re:About time! (heh)

[aardvarkjoe]

DST is a waste of time. Now it is time for the U.S. to do the same.

Now that the EU has got rid of it, the US will start changing the clocks four time times a year just to be contrary.

Re:" stop the twice-yearly changing of clocks"

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe we should compromise, only change the clocks once a year.

Re:Why keep DST?

[SCVonSteroids]

Although the name implies it, daylight saving time does not actually make the day longer.

Hah! Well I guess somebody better tell Mr Sun he can get back to his normal orbit* speed around our Earth during the winter time!

*High Blood Pressure Warning: This comment may cause sudden spikes in blood pressure. If experiencing any chest pains or numbness, please consult a doctor immediately.

Re:Compromise: UK to set back to 1939, EU to 2019

[maglor_83]

In Scotland they'll be set to Scotch Time and in NI they'll be set to Whiskey Time, of course.

Why would you set your time to 'All the time'?

the revolution is here !

[Tom]

Look, it took only a decade of pressure and a public petition with a majority reminiscent of old soviet style elections to strong-arm our politicians into doing one simple thing right.

There may still be hope for this planet. At this speed, somewhere around 2350 they will decide that climate change is actually a bad thing and they ought to do something about it.