Changes from plenary report to adopted text

Added(4e) Numerous studies looked into the link between the switch to summer time and the risk of heart attacks, disrupted body rhythm, sleep deprivation, lack of concentration and attention, increased risk of accidents, lower life satisfaction and even suicide rates. However, longer daylight, outdoor activities after work or school and exposure to sunlight clearly have some positive long-term effects on general well-being. [Am. 11]

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 2: 2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, Member States may still apply a seasonal change of their standard time or times in 2021, provided that they do so at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on the last Sunday in October of that year. The Member States shall notify this decision to the Commission by 1 April 2020 at the latest.

Added(4f) Seasonal changes of time also have an adverse impact on the welfare of animals, which is evident in agriculture, for example, where cows milk production suffers. [Am. 12]

RemovedArticle 2 – paragraph 1: 1. A coordination mechanism is hereby established with the aim to ensure a harmonised and coordinated approach to time arrangements throughout the Union.

Added(4g) It is widely assumed that seasonal changes of time bring about energy savings. Indeed, that was the main reason for their initial introduction in the last century. Research shows, however, that while the seasonal changes of time might be marginally beneficial to reducing energy consumption in the Union as a whole, it is not the case in every Member State. The energy for lighting saved by switching to summer time might be also outweighed by increased consumption of energy for heating. Moreover, results are difficult to interpret as they are strongly influenced by external factors, such as meteorology, behaviour of energy users or ongoing energy transition. [Am. 13]

RemovedArticle 2 – paragraph 2: 2. The coordination mechanism shall consist of one representative for each Member State and one representative of the Commission.

Added(5) This Directive should not prejudice the right of each Member State to decide on the standard time or times for the territories under its jurisdiction and falling under the territorial scope of the Treaties, and on further changes thereto. However, in order to ensure that the application of summer-time arrangements by some Member States only does not disrupt the functioning of the internal market, Member States should refrain from changing the standard time in any given territory under their jurisdiction for reasons related to seasonal changes, be such change presented as a change of time zone. Moreover, in order to minimise disruptions, inter alia, to transport, communications and other concerned sectors, they should notify the Commission in due time of their intention by 1 April 2020 at the latest in the event that they intend to change their standard time and subsequently apply the notified changes. The Commission should, standard time on the basis of that notification, inform all other Member States so that they can take all necessary measures. It should also inform the general public and stakeholders by publishing this information last Sunday in October 2021. [Am. 14]

RemovedArticle 2 – paragraph 2 a (new): 2 a. Where a Member State notifies the Commission of its decision pursuant to Article 1(2), the coordination mechanism shall convene to discuss and assess the potential impact of the envisaged change on the functioning of the internal market, in order to avoid significant disruptions.

Added(6) Therefore, it is necessary to put an end to the harmonisation of the period covered by summer-time arrangements as laid down in Directive 2000/84/EC and to introduce common rules preventing Member States from applying different seasonal time arrangements by changing their standard time more than once during the year and establishing the obligation to notify envisaged changes of the standard time. This Directive aims at contributing in a determined manner to the smooth functioning of the internal market and should, consequently, be based on Article 114 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), as interpreted in accordance with the consistent case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union. [Am. 15]

RemovedArticle 2 – paragraph 2 b (new): 2 b. Where on the basis of the assessment referred to in paragraph 2a, the Commission considers that the envisaged change will significantly affect the proper functioning of the internal market, it shall inform the notifying Member State thereof.

Added(6a) The decision on which standard time to apply in each Member State needs to be preceded by consultations and studies which would take into account citizens’ preferences, geographical variations, regional differences, standard working arrangements and other factors relevant for the particular Member State. Therefore, Member States should have sufficient time to analyse the impact of the proposal and to choose the solution best serving its populations, while taking into account the well-functioning of the internal market. [Am. 16]

RemovedArticle 2 – paragraph 2 c (new): 2 c. By 31 October 2020 at the latest, the notifying Member State shall decide whether to maintain its intention or not. Where the notifying Member State decides to maintain its intention, it shall provide a detailed explanation of how it will address the negative impact of the change on the functioning of the internal market.

Added(6b) A time change unrelated to seasonal shifts will lead to transition costs, especially with regard to IT systems in transport and other sectors. In order to reduce significantly the costs of transition, a reasonable preparation period is needed for the implementation of this Directive. [Am. 17]

RemovedArticle 3 – paragraph 1: 1. By 31 December 2025 at the latest the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council an evaluation report on the application and implementation of this Directive, accompanied, where necessary, by a legislative proposal for its review based on a thorough impact assessment, involving all relevant stakeholders.

Added(7) This Directive should apply from 1 April 2019 2021, so that the last summer-time period subject to the rules of Directive 2000/84/EC should start, in every Member State, at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 31 the last Sunday in March 2019 2021. Member States that, after that summer-time period, intend to adopt a standard time corresponding to the time applied during the winter season in accordance with Directive 2000/84/EC should change their standard time at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 27 on the last Sunday in October 2019 2021, so that similar and lasting changes occurring in different Member States take place simultaneously. It is desirable that Member States take the decisions on the standard time that each of them will apply as from 2019 2021 in a concerted manner. [Am. 18]

RemovedArticle 3 – paragraph 2: 2. Member States shall provide the Commission with the relevant information by 30 April 2025 at the latest.

Added(7a) For the purpose of ensuring a harmonised implementation of this Directive, Member States should cooperate with one another and take decisions on their envisaged time arrangements in a concerted and coordinated manner. Therefore, a coordination mechanism should be established, consisting of a designated representative from each Member State and a representative of the Commission. The coordination mechanism should discuss and assess the potential impact of any envisaged decision on a Member State’s standard times on the functioning of the internal market, in order to avoid significant disruptions. [Am. 19]

RemovedArticle 4 – paragraph 1: 1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 1 April 2021 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions. / They shall apply those provisions from 1 April 2021.

Added(7b) The Commission should assess whether the envisaged time arrangements in the different Member States have the potential to significantly and permanently hamper the proper functioning of the internal market. Where that assessment does not lead to Member States reconsidering their envisaged time arrangements, the Commission should be able to postpone the date of application of this Directive by no more than 12 months and submit a legislative proposal, if appropriate. Therefore, and in order to ensure the proper application of this Directive, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission to postpone the date of application of this Directive by no more than 12 months. [Am. 20]

RemovedArticle 4 a (new): Article 4 a / 1. The Commission, in close cooperation with the coordination mechanism referred to in Article 2, shall closely monitor the foreseen time arrangements throughout the Union. / 2. Where the Commission determines that the envisaged time arrangements, notified by the Member States pursuant to Article 1(2), have the potential to significantly and permanently hamper the proper functioning of the internal market, it is empowered to adopt delegated acts to postpone the date of application of this Directive by no more than 12 months and submit a legislative proposal, if appropriate.

Added(8) Implementation of this Directive should be monitored. The results of this monitoring should be presented by the Commission in a report to the European Parliament and to the Council. That report should be based on the information that is made available to the Commission by the Member States in a timely fashion to allow for the report to be presented at the specified time.

RemovedArticle 4 b (new): Article 4 b / 1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article. / 2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 4a shall be conferred on the Commission from [date of entry into force of this Directive] until [date of application of this Directive]. / 3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 4a may be revoked at anytime by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force. / 4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016. / 5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. / 6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 4a shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have b…

Added(9) Since the objectives of this Directive as regards harmonised time arrangements cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives.

RemovedArticle 5: Directive 2000/84/EC is repealed with effect from 1 April 2021.

Added(10) The harmonised time arrangements should be applied in accordance with the provisions on the territorial scope of the Treaties specified in Article 355 TFEU.