Changes from plenary report to adopted text

RemovedSHORT JUSTIFICATION

RemovedIn its resolution of 8 February 2018, the European Parliament called the European Commission to conduct an assessment on summer time arrangements and, if necessary, come up with a proposal for its revision.

RemovedSubsequently, the European Commission held a public consultation during the 2018 summer. The consultation showed a great support from the citizens to abolish the bi-annual change of clock.

RemovedThe rapporteur underlines the will of the Parliament to listen to this clear demand from the European citizens. Therefore, the rapporteur supports the Commission proposal that was presented on 12 September 2018 to discontinue seasonal change of time.

RemovedDiscontinuing seasonal change has several important implications. These implications concern the health of citizens because of the impact on biorhythm, but also the health of animals. The implications are also great regarding EU-harmonisation. The territories of the Member states stretch over three different time zones (GMT 0, +1 and +2) and any unprepared or non-coordinated approach could disturb the workings of single market. The competence to choose a standard time for its territory remains indeed in the hands of the Member states. Consequently, there is a high risk of fragmentation concerning the different time zones, as neighbouring countries could opt to switch to different time.

RemovedThe rapporteur has also taken into account that the Austrian presidency did not make it a priority and that the Transports ministers remain divided on the issue when it was discussed during their meeting in October and June 2018 and December 2017.

RemovedConsidering these limitations to the discontinuation of the summertime directive, the rapporteur proposes the following approach:

RemovedCoordination is crucial to ensure the functioning of the single market, for having a different time has implications on numerous of economic sectors and on the movements of citizens. This is especially true since the previous directive on time change was adopted when there were still only 15 member states. For these reasons, the rapporteur considers that an entry into force on 1 April 2019 is too early and needs to be postponed to 2020 in order to allow member states to prepare for the change, but also to coordinate.

RemovedNotwithstanding the Member states competence to set, the rapporteur proposes to return to the wintertime as the standard time. As a year round summertime would technically represent a change of time zone, all countries opting for wintertime as standard time would ease the process of discontinuing time change and prevent the fragmentation between member states.

RemovedSimilarly, another way to ease the process is the coordination of Member states by groups of neighbouring countries and especially in line with the time zones (GMT 0, +1 and +2) to preserve the current state of play.

RemovedAMENDMENTS

RemovedThe Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

RemovedRecital 2: (2) In its resolution of 8 February 2018, the European Parliament called on the Commission to conduct an assessment of the summer-time arrangements provided by Directive 2000/84/EC together with the Member States and, if necessary, to come up with a proposal for its revision. That resolution also confirmed that it is essential to maintain a harmonised approach to time arrangements throughout the Union.

RemovedRecital 3: (3) The Commission has examined available evidence, which points to the importance of having harmonised Union rules in this area to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market, create legal certainty and long-term dependability and avoid, inter alia, disruptions to the scheduling and performance of passenger and goods transport operations and the functioning of information and communication systems, higher costs to cross-border trade, or lower productivity for goods and services and effects on agricultural productivity. Evidence shows that the benefits of summer-time arrangements do not outweigh the inconveniences linked to a biannual change of time.

RemovedRecital 3 a (new): (3 a) In this context the situation of livestock farmers can serve as an example where the summer-time arrangements had been initially deemed incompatible with agricultural working practices, notably regarding the already very early start of the working day under standard time. Also, the bi-annual transition to summer-time was thought to make it harder to get the produce or animals out to the markets. And finally, due to cows following their natural milking rhythm, a reduction of milk yields was assumed. However, modern agricultural equipment and practices have revolutionised farming in a way that makes most of these concerns no longer appear relevant while concerns regarding the biorhythm of animals as well as farmers' working conditions still prevail.

RemovedRecital 4: (4) A lively public debate is taking place on summer-time arrangements thanks to the active participation of national action groups in many Member States, and some Member States have already expressed their preference to discontinue the application of such arrangements. During the discussions held, specialists from various fields, including human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, education and tourism, assessed the adverse effects of the yearly changing of the clocks. In the light of these developments, it is necessary to continue safeguarding the proper functioning of the internal market and to avoid any significant disruptions thereto caused by divergences between Member States in this area. Therefore, it is appropriate to put an end in a coordinated way to summer-time arrangements.

RemovedRecital 4 a (new): (4 a) A number of citizens' initiatives have highlighted citizens' concerns about the biannual clock change and Member States should be given the time and opportunity to carry out their own public consultations and impact assessments in order to better understand the implications of discontinuing season time changes in all regions.

RemovedRecital 4 b (new): (4 b) In order to ensure a harmonised implementation of this Directive, Member States shall consult each other and coordinate any time zone changes in order to avoid impractical time zones and burdensome disruptions to the internal market.

RemovedRecital 5: (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, the agricultural sector and other concerned sectors, they should notify the Commission in due time of their intention to change their standard time and subsequently apply the notified changes. The Commission should, 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.

RemovedRecital 7: (7) This Directive should apply from 1 April 2020, 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 29 March 2020. 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 31 October2020, so that similar and lasting changes occurring in different Member States take place simultaneously in a well-coordinated manner. It is desirable that Member States take the decisions on the standard time that each of them will apply as from 2020 in a concerted manner.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1: 1. Member States shall not apply seasonal changes to their standard time or times. They shall jointly choose either permanent standard time or permanent summer time to apply across the Union.

RemovedThe aim is to avoid a patchwork of times between EU countries. A common choice at EU level would be good for the single market and citizens’ everyday lives.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 2: 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, Member States may still apply a seasonal change of their standard time or times in 2020, provided that they do so at 1.00 a.m., Coordinated Universal Time, on 31 October 2020. The Member States shall notify this decision in accordance with Article 2.

RemovedArticle 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1: Member States shall adopt and publish, by 1 April 2020 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.

RemovedArticle 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2: They shall apply those provisions from 1 April 2020.

RemovedArticle 5 – paragraph 1: Directive 2000/84/EC is repealed with effect from 1 April 2020.