EU Stalemate on Time Change Persists as Clocks Set to Move Forward

Despite widespread public opposition and health concerns, EU member states remain divided on adopting permanent summer or winter time, leaving the biannual time change in place indefinitely.

• The EU will transition to summer time on March 30, 2025, advancing clocks by one hour, despite ongoing debates about abolishing the biannual time change.
• The European Parliament voted in 2021 to end the time change, but member states have yet to agree on whether to adopt permanent summer or winter time.
• Health experts advocate for permanent winter time, citing its alignment with natural circadian rhythms, while public opinion in Germany leans slightly toward permanent summer time.
• Studies show the original purpose of the time change—to save energy—has minimal impact on modern energy consumption, raising questions about its relevance.
• Countries like Ukraine, Greenland, Japan, and South Africa have abolished or never implemented time changes, maintaining consistent year-round time.

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