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Spain Sets Clocks Back One Hour as Madrid Urges EU to End Seasonal Time Changes

Medical groups recommend permanent standard time for better alignment with circadian biology.

Overview

  • Spain executed the scheduled switch to winter time overnight on October 25–26, moving 03:00 to 02:00 and granting an extra hour of sleep as most devices updated automatically.
  • Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told the European Council he wants the biannual shifts abolished, citing scant energy savings and negative health impacts.
  • The BOE has published schedules through 2026, so the spring and autumn clock changes will continue unless the EU agrees on a new framework.
  • Spanish sleep, neurology and internal medicine societies report short‑term jet‑lag‑like effects and heightened risks for children, older adults and people with cardiovascular or cognitive conditions.
  • IDAE estimates the practice saves roughly €6 per household annually, while surveys show a preference for permanent summer time even as scientific bodies advocate permanent standard time.