Poland Advocates for Permanent End to Daylight Saving Time within EU
The European Commission has offered support to Poland's renewed push to eliminate daylight saving time (DST) across the European Union, aiming to end the bi-annual clock adjustments.
As part of its current six-month rotating presidency of the EU, the Polish government has prioritized DST abolition within its agenda. On Wednesday, Polish Development Minister Krzysztof Paszyk met with European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas to discuss the initiative.
In a statement to Polskie Radio, Małgorzata Dzieciniak, spokesperson for Poland's development ministry, confirmed that the commissioner supports Poland's efforts to abolish time changes. The European Commission later confirmed that Brussels encourages discussions on the matter during the Polish presidency.
Efforts to scrap DST in the EU have been ongoing for years. In 2018, the European Commission proposed ending the practice, while the European Parliament backed the idea. However, progress stalled due to resistance from some member states, as reported by Politico Europe.
Now, Poland has revived the debate, arguing that the abolition of DST would bring economic and health benefits. Minister Paszyk has positioned the issue as a priority for Poland's presidency, which runs through the first half of 2025.
Supporters of abolishing DST claim that the bi-annual clock adjustments disrupt people's health, productivity, and economic stability. Paszyk highlighted studies indicating that the time change creates confusion and financial costs for businesses.
Numerous studies have linked DST transitions to negative health effects, including sleep disturbances, increased stress, and a higher risk of heart attacks in the days following the clock shift. According to polls, public sentiment in Poland strongly favors the elimination of DST, with broad support.
The challenge remains to align EU member states behind a single, definitive policy, as the EU has struggled to finalize a decision. In 2019, discussions stalled when member states failed to agree on whether to permanently adopt standard time or daylight saving time. The European Commission has left the decision to individual countries, a stance reaffirmed by its spokeswoman, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen.
Daylight saving time was initially introduced in Europe during World War I to conserve energy, with many countries later adopting it permanently. The EU standardized time changes in 1996, requiring all member states to adjust clocks on the last Sunday of March and October. However, concerns over DST's effectiveness, health impacts, and economic consequences have fueled calls for its abolition.
As Poland leads the renewed push to eliminate DST, the success of its efforts hinges on its ability to negotiate compromises among nations with varying preferences regarding time arrangements. Ultimately, the fate of daylight saving time within the EU remains uncertain as discussions continue.
Reference(s):[1] Polish Development Minister meets with European Commissioner to discuss DST abolition[2] European Commission's support for Poland's DST abolition initiative confirmed[3] Polls indicate broad support for ending DST in Poland[4] EU-wide coordination needed for DST abolition[5] The longstanding debate on daylight saving time in the European Union
- The European Commission, in accordance with Poland's current EU presidency, encourages discussions on the abolition of daylight saving time (DST), citing potential economic and health benefits.
- As part of Poland's agenda, the government has prioritized DST elimination, with their efforts receiving support from the European Commission for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
- In meetings with Polish Development Minister Krzysztof Paszyk, the commissioner expressed support for Poland's initiative to end bi-annual clock adjustments in the EU.
- Beyond the economic and health impacts, advocates for DST abolition argue that the time changes disrupt general news topics, including politics, policy-and-legislation, and the economy.
- Despite years of discussions and support at the European level, progress on DST elimination has been slow, as some member states remain resistant to change.
- In the future, the success of Poland's efforts to eliminate DST will depend on its ability to negotiate compromises with nations that have different preferences regarding time arrangements within the EU.
