In recent years a debate has been growing about the bi-annual custom of changing the clocks as people increasingly begin to view the practice as impractical. The clocks will go forward by an hour this Sunday but the European Parliament has voted to scrap the practice altogether by 2021.
The EU has voted to abolish daylight savings by 2021. Image by Getty
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to abolish the bi-annual custom of changing the clocks by an hour in spring and autumn by 2021. This isn’t the last word on the matter though. While the EU will no longer mandate that clocks should change, member governments will have to decide whether to remain on “permanent summer” or “permanent winter” time under the draft directive, which passed by 410 votes to 192 on Tuesday.
Countries that want to be permanently on summertime would adjust their clocks for the final time on the last Sunday in March 2021, stretching the number of daylight hours they get in the evening and possibly enjoying some after-work light in wintertime. Those that opt for permanent wintertime would change their clocks for the final time on the last Sunday of October 2021.
Clocks will go forward this Sunday but the practice could disappear by 2021. Image by Getty
Because of the vast geographical differences and timezones across the bloc, the changes (should they occur) would affect each country differently. However, it seems that the majority of EU citizens are happy to scrap the practice. The European Commission survey on the proposal generated 4.6m responses, with 84% of respondents in favour of abolishing daylight savings.
Member states will have to decide whether to implement changes or not. Photo by Thierry Le Fouille via Getty Images
The practice of switching the clocks was introduced in the first world war to save energy by prolonging evening daylight in summer. The idea was that people tend to be more active in the evenings so extra daylight would presumably mean that people would spend less time with the lights on at home. But with varied lifestyles and advances in technology, for a lot of people, the practice has outlived its usefulness.
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