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End of British Summer Time?
Maik:
--- Quote ---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.
--- End quote ---
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/04/meps-vote-to-scrap-switch-from-summer-to-winter-time
TonyD:
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.
Maik:
--- Quote from: TonyD on Tuesday, 26 March, 2019 @ 17:24:53 ---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.
--- End quote ---
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:
Maik:
--- Quote ---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.
--- End quote ---
http://www.ekathimerini.com/239091/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-reportedly-faces-eu-fine-over-time-change
;)
Maik:
--- Quote ---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.
--- End quote ---
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
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