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EU Faces Pressure from Poland to Eliminate Daylight Saving Time

EU Commission supports Poland's effort to permanently scrap daylight saving time across union, aiming to cease biannual time shifts as per Polish government's presidency priorities.

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read
European Commission supports Poland's mission to scrap daylight saving time (DST) throughout the...
European Commission supports Poland's mission to scrap daylight saving time (DST) throughout the European Union, aiming to halt biannual clock adjustments. As the current holder of the six-month rotating presidency in the EU, Poland plans to eradicate DST from its official agenda.

EU Faces Pressure from Poland to Eliminate Daylight Saving Time

Poland Takes a Stand to Eliminate Daylight Saving Time in EU, Winning Backing from European Commission

🇵🇱 Poland is making a bold move to end daylight saving time (DST) within the European Union, with the backing of the European Commission. The Polish government has placed this contentious issue on their agenda, hoping to make a significant change during their EU presidency. But will the clock stop changing for good? ⏰🇪🇺

Poland has the support of its Development Minister, Krzysztof Paszyk, who recently met with European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, to discuss this initiative. According to Małgorzata Dzieciniak, spokesperson for Poland's development ministry, the commissioner has offered full support in the matter of abolishing the time change.

Efforts to end DST in the EU have been ongoing for years, with mixed results. Previously, the European Commission proposed the idea in 2018, and the European Parliament approved it, but progress stalled due to resistance from various member states. Now, Poland has revived the discussion, citing economic and health benefits of ending DST.

Supporters of the move argue that the twice-yearly clock changes disrupt people's health, productivity, and economic stability. Paszyk points to studies indicating the time change causes unnecessary confusion and costs for businesses. In addition, numerous studies have linked DST transitions to negative health effects, such as sleep disturbances, increased stress, and a higher risk of heart attacks following the clock shift.

Public sentiment in Poland strongly favors the elimination of DST, with polls showing that 70% of Poles support the change. Some experts argue that energy savings from DST are minimal and do not justify the inconvenience to citizens.

Despite growing support, the EU has struggled to reach a consensus on the issue. In 2019, discussions stalled when member states could not agree on whether to permanently adopt standard time or DST. The European Commission has since left the decision to individual countries.

As Poland leads the renewed efforts to abolish DST, the challenge remains to unite EU member states behind a single, definitive policy. The outcome depends on Warsaw's ability to negotiate compromises among nations with varying preferences on time arrangements.

Daylight saving time was first introduced in Europe during World War I to conserve energy, with many countries later adopting it permanently. The EU standardized time changes in 1996, but growing concerns over its effectiveness and impact on health and the economy have fueled calls for its repeal. While Poland's latest push has gained momentum, the fate of DST in the EU remains unclear as discussions continue.

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References:

  1. European Union, "Summer Time Introduction:" https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_02_6232
  2. Political Europe, "Poland Holds Sway in EU as It Takes Centre Stage": https://www.politico.eu/article/poland-leadership-of-eu-rzeszow-2025/
  3. The Polish government, led by Development Minister Krzysztof Paszyk, is working towards eliminating daylight saving time (DST) within the European Union (EU), having secured the European Commission's support for this initiative.
  4. Impressed by the potential benefits of ending DST, numerous studies highlight the negative effect of the twice-yearly clock changes on people's health, productivity, and economic stability.
  5. In alignment with public opinion, 70% of Poles strongly support the elimination of DST, citing concerns over energy usage, minimal energy savings, and the inconvenience associated with time changes.
  6. A part of the 'policy-and-legislation' landscape, this issue has been debated for years in the EU, with the European Commission initiating discussions in 2018 but facing resistance from various member states.
  7. The Polish-led discussion in the EU to abolish DST has significant implications for 'general-news' and 'politics', with the upcoming challenge being to unite EU member states behind a single, definitive policy in terms of 'policy-and-legislation'.
  8. Space-related to energy, the issue also involves the economy and energy sector, with proponents arguing that the economic costs of DST, such as increased confusion and costs for businesses, outweigh any potential energy savings.

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