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Spain Revives EU Bid to End Clock Changes as Commission Plans New Study

The push remains preliminary because any EU change requires a Council majority with member states retaining the final say.

Overview

  • Spain secured a late addition of the issue to the EU Energy Council agenda as an informational item, so ministers neither debated nor voted.
  • Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said the Commission will commission a new study on scrapping the seasonal time change.
  • Commission vice president Teresa Ribera called it the right moment to act, noting the EU clock‑change schedule runs only through 2026.
  • Any overhaul would require a qualified‑majority decision by EU governments, and countries would choose their permanent time; Spain has not stated a preference.
  • The push leans on prior signals and evidence, including an EU consultation in 2018 showing 84% support to end the switch, a 2019 Parliament vote, and research highlighting limited energy savings and health risks.