Author Topic: End of British Summer Time?  (Read 9516 times)

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Offline Maik

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End of British Summer Time?
« on: Monday, 04 March, 2019 @ 20:44:42 »
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MEPs vote to scrap twice-yearly clock change by 2021
Proposed end to spring and autumn custom could affect Britain even if it leaves EU

A committee of MEPs has voted to scrap the custom of changing the clocks in spring and autumn by 2021, as momentum builds behind a draft law that could raise tensions with Britain after Brexit.

The move will apply to the UK if it is still in the EU or in a transition period by that time.

The European parliament’s transport committee voted on Monday to abandon the twice-yearly clock change by 23 votes to 11, although member states would be able to choose whether to remain on “permanent summer” or “permanent winter” time, under the proposals.

The plans, which followed a consultation of 4 million people, still have to be agreed with EU member states and the full European parliament if they are to become law.

If the UK were in an extended Brexit transition period, the British government would be obliged to implement the directive without any say, despite serious reservations in parliament.

Brussels has regulated seasonal clock changes since 1980 to prevent uncoordinated changes to summer time from causing havoc with railway and airline timetables. Under EU law, the clocks in 28 countries move forward together on the last Sunday in March and fall back on the last Sunday in October.

Member states can choose which one of three time zones they are in.

More than 4.5 million people took part in an EU consultation on ending clock changes, the largest-ever number taking part in such a survey by the European commission. Yet 70% of the replies came from just one country, Germany, followed by France, then Austria.

The UK had the lowest level of survey participation, with just 0.02% of the population responding.

Across the EU 84% were in favour of scrapping clock changes, but there were significant national differences. While 93% of Finns and 91% of Poles support the move, Greeks and Cypriots narrowly opposed the plans.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/04/meps-vote-to-scrap-switch-from-summer-to-winter-time

Offline TonyD

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MPs cast a shadow over Europe - another dark day for EU citizens
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday, 26 March, 2019 @ 17:24:53 »
The European Parliament has backed a proposal to stop the obligatory one-hour clock change which extends daylight hours in summer EU-wide.

Germans get their way to end summer time clock changes for the EU

The European Commission - in charge of drafting EU legislation - made the proposal last year, after a public consultation which showed 84% of respondents wanting to scrap the biannual clock changes. There were 4.6 million replies in that consultation, 70% of which were from Germans.

But MEPs and the Commission stress that states must co-ordinate their choices, to minimise the risk of economic disruption from a patchwork of different time systems.

Offline Maik

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Re: MPs cast a shadow over Europe - another dark day for EU citizens
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday, 26 March, 2019 @ 20:55:31 »
MEPs and the Commission stress that states must co-ordinate their choices, to minimise the risk of economic disruption from a patchwork of different time systems.

So all member states have a choice of which time zone they want, but they must coordinate it with other member states around them. I can see that working  :iroll:

Offline Maik

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Re: MPs cast a shadow over Europe - another dark day for EU citizens
« Reply #3 on: Monday, 01 April, 2019 @ 11:31:00 »
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Greece reportedly faces EU fine over time change

Greece faces a European Commission fine after introducing Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, according to sources.

For every hour that passes from 3 a.m. on Sunday, when clocks were turned forward to 4 a.m., the country will face a fine of 17,650 euros, the same sources said, noting that the fine will remain in place until clocks are turned back to their original time.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/239091/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-reportedly-faces-eu-fine-over-time-change

 ;)

Offline Maik

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Re: End of British Summer Time?
« Reply #4 on: Monday, 01 April, 2019 @ 14:23:54 »
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EC's Greece office leaked reports of EU fine for time change to raise awareness of fake news

Media reports about the European Union imposing a fine on Greece for introducing Daylight Saving Time on Sunday was leaked intentionally to raise awareness and encourage caution opposite fake news, the European Commission's office in Athens said in a statement.

"In this way, the representative office of the European Commission n Athens wanted to underline the need for all citizens to be cautious opposite the phenomenon of fake news and misinformation, particularly ahead of the public debate on the future of Europe ahead of Euro elections and the protection of democratic rights," the EC's office said in a statement.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/239095/article/ekathimerini/news/ecs-greece-office-leaked-reports-of-eu-fine-for-time-change-to-raise-awareness-of-fake-news

Offline Maik

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Re: End of British Summer Time?
« Reply #5 on: Friday, 25 October, 2019 @ 01:33:33 »
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‘Time border’ could exist between Northern Ireland and Great Britain after Brexit, minister admits
EU member states are consulting on proposals to scrap seasonal clock changes
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-irish-border-time-clock-change-daylight-savings-boris-johnson-a9169326.html

 :oki:

Offline TonyD

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Re: End of British Summer Time?
« Reply #6 on: Friday, 25 October, 2019 @ 09:06:11 »
21st Century vs. Middle Ages ?

Offline Maik

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Re: End of British Summer Time?
« Reply #7 on: Saturday, 26 October, 2019 @ 11:57:03 »
Good a time as any to remind that, yes, it is the end of British Summer Time - for this year, anyway. Clocks fall back in the early hours of tomorrow morning: 02:00 BST reverts to 01:00 GMT / 04:00 EEST to 03:00 EET.


Offline Maik

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Re: End of British Summer Time?
« Reply #8 on: Sunday, 27 October, 2019 @ 03:50:57 »

Offline Maik

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Re: End of British Summer Time?
« Reply #9 on: Saturday, 24 October, 2020 @ 20:11:06 »
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The clocks change tonight – but it won’t happen for much longer

Plans to abolish clock changes across the European Union in 2021 have been put on hold as a result of the pandemic. In March 2019 the European Parliament approved a proposal stating that seasonal clock changes – spring forward, fall back – would become a thing of the past from next year, but a spokesperson for the Council of the European Union has confirmed that the move is not currently on the agenda.

The spokesperson says that it is very unlikely that the current German presidency of the council will raise the issue again before its term ends in December. It is also unlikely that Portugal or Slovenia, which hold the presidency in 2021, will put seasonal clock changes back on the agenda anytime soon.

That means that the UK will still switch back to GMT at 02:00 on Sunday, October 25. And it will keep switching between GMT and BST for some time yet. Seasonal clock changes will also still take place across Europe, with every member state making the jump at the same time to keep in sync.

It might be a slow process, but the end of daylight savings in Europe is still likely to happen – even if it is delayed by a year or two.
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/uk-clocks-change-2020-daylight-savings-time


Clocks fall back