MEPs of the European Parliament's ‘transport’ committee voted (23 votes in favour, 11 against, 0 abstentions) on Monday, 4 March, in favour of Marita Ulvskog's (S&D, Sweden) report on the end of the time change, suggesting that this change should be stopped in the European Union in 2021.
This vote echoes the European Commission's proposal of 12 September last year (see EUROPE 12094) following a citizens' consultation conducted during the summer (see EUROPE 12086, 12056). The institution then proposed that the last switch to summer time be made in March this year, before a possible last switch to winter time in October of the same year.
In her initial draft report, Mrs Ulvskog suggested that after the entry into force of the text, a transitional period of two years should be introduced before the time change that occurs twice a year should end in practice (see EUROPE 12171).
Here, MEPs therefore advocate a final switch to summer time at the end of March 2021, before a possible final time change at the end of October 2021, if a Member State decides to apply winter time on its territory. the latter option were chosen by a State, it would have to notify the Commission by 1 April, 2020 at the latest.
It should also be noted that the text voted by the European Parliament's ‘transport’ committee is opposed to the Commission's suggestion to give Member States the possibility to reverse their decision to choose a time zone, subject to notification to the institution six months in advance of the effectiveness of such a change.
MEPs also want a coordination mechanism to be set up to ensure that states have a harmonised approach to their choice of time zone. A representative of each State and one of the Commission would then be responsible for discussing, before the end of the time change, the decisions of the States in this regard.
And if the Commission were to consider, still before the end of the time change, that Member States' decisions are likely to hamper the proper functioning of the internal market, it could, according to this report, postpone the date of application of the provisions of the directive by up to 12 months by means of delegated acts. Moreover, if appropriate, it could even make a legislative proposal.
It should also be noted that an amendment recommending that "territories other than overseas territories of the Member States are grouped over three different time zones or standard times”, has been adopted as a recital.
As for the Council of the European Union, work on this issue has not resumed since the transport ministers approved a progress report last December (see EUROPE 12151, 12141). (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)