The European Union conducted an online survey recently that revealed that most European citizens are not fans of setting the clocks back and forth in the autumn and spring known as Daylight Saving. Now, all signs point to the EU getting rid of the practice; some even claim to know the date this decision could come into effect – reports napi.hu.
The European Commission’s online survey about the need for Daylight Saving ended on 16th August. A total of about 4.6 million people completed the survey during the period between 4th July and 16th August. The results of the survey reveal that more than 80% of the EU citizens who answered the questions would be in favour of getting rid of setting the clocks back and forth in March and October.
The European Commission supposedly met to discuss the results on 30th August.
However, Margaritis Schinas, the Chief Spokesperson of the Commission, emphasised that this was not a referendum and the European Parliament is also going to express their opinion.
Nevertheless, Euractiv, a key EU portal seems firm in their belief that the end of Daylight Saving is near. Several countries, including Lithuania, Finland and Sweden already announced that they would be actively advocating to abolish the practice of constantly setting the clocks back and forth.
It is interesting to note that Daylight Saving has a long tradition in most European countries, dating back either to the first or the second World War or the oil crises of the 1970s. As an EU practice, Daylight Saving was introduced in the 1980s. As of now, it is regulated by the 2000/84/EK directive.
This directive prescribes that clocks have to be set forward on the last Sunday of March (Daylight Saving Time), while they have to be set back on the last Sunday of October (Standard Time) in EU member countries.
The EU regulations targeting Daylight Saving Time are meant to harmonise the beginning and end of summertime in the entire territory of the single market.
Euractiv from Brussels seems to suggest that 28th October this year, when the clocks must be set back an hour at 3 am, might be the end of the Daylight Saving practice.
On a lighter note, make sure to check out this article about a Hungarian ice cream parlour’s prestigious spot in a Europe-wide ranking.
Source: napi.hu
