Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

AddedSHORT JUSTIFICATION

AddedOver the last years, the STA (Summer time arrangement) has been the subject of highly debated issues. A number of requests from citizens, from the European Parliament, and from certain EU Member States, have led the Commission to decide for the investigation of the functioning of the current EU summertime arrangements and to assess whether or not they should be changed.

AddedEU summer-time arrangements imply that clocks are changed twice per year in all Member States, in order to cater for the changing patterns of daylight across seasons. Clocks are advanced by one hour in the morning of the last Sunday of March and set back by one hour in the morning of the last Sunday of October to return to standard time.

AddedThe spectrum of health issues that are related to Daylight Saving Time (DST) is broad, encompassing short-term (i.e. during the days following the switch) and long-term effects, as well as positive and negative effects. However, the relevant impact of disturbances in the biological rhythm due to time change on human health is still unclear and requires further in-depth research regarding the process of adaptation to time change.

AddedDuring the public consultation on summertime arrangements, the majority of all respondents (76%) stated that they have a negative experience with the switching from wintertime to summertime. 43% of these answers were related to health issues and health concerns, while 20% were justified by lack of energy savings.

AddedIn the context of these negative experiences, the Commission decided to take into consideration potentially adverse health effects of DST, which have been the subject of numerous studies and debates. Some studies look 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.

AddedAlthough the list of potential negative effects is long, some studies clearly establish positive long-term effects for general well-being from longer daylight, outdoor activities after work or school, exposure to sunlight.

AddedBut even though I welcome positively the new initiative of the Commission, and I would accept some potential health effects of EU summertime arrangements, a large scale of choice in the terms of changing time should be left to the discretion of the Members States according to their interests.

AddedThat is why I intend to signalise some potential health-related aspects of the proposal, stipulating some positive and negative elements that may be taken into consideration, but at the same time I refrain from imposing decisions on the Member States. Of course, I would like to consider a positive attitude towards the EC proposal, but in order to be in compliance with the subsidiarity principle in the frame of health policy, we should let the Member States take their own decisions in a harmonized manner.

AddedIn conclusion, I would like to underline that, even if we would be to take a clear final decision, especially due to the fact that this legislation is heading towards its end, we have to consider the empirical evidence related to health issues. However, a genuine and sincere consideration and gathering of all accessible data of that particular dossier does not facilitate our task in terms of making a decision that is clearly supported by scientifically proven arguments. I strongly believe that we should express an intention to conclude the outstanding work given the clearly expressed will of the European citizens; yet, we have to admit our obvious limitations - scarce empirical data and no common positions of the Member States. For these reasons, it seems appropriate that we may consider the ongoing negotiations to be slightly postponed as we may operate on more concrete data and a clearer message from the Member States providing and guiding us in their still unmet expectations.

AddedAMENDMENTS

AddedThe Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety calls on the Committee on Transport and Tourism, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

AddedRecital 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, long-termism and predictability, so as to avoid, inter alia, disruptions to the scheduling of transport operations and the functioning of information and communication systems, higher costs to cross-border trade, or lower productivity for goods and services. Evidence is not fully conclusive as to whether the benefits of summer-time arrangements outweigh the inconveniences linked to a biannual change of time and the results differ between areas.

AddedRecital 4: (4) A lively public debate is taking place on summer-time arrangements, as was also evident from the 4.6 million responses from citizens in the Commission’s open consultation procedure, in which a clear majority opposed the current seasonal changes. The main reason for the discontinuation is the impact of time changes on human health (43%), followed by lack of energy savings (20%). Although seventy percent of participants in the public consultation were from one Member State, some Member States have already expressed their preference to discontinue the application of such arrangements. Some parliaments have also called on their governments to take action on seasonal changes of time in the EU. National legislative initiatives have been launched to abolish seasonal changes of time. 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.

AddedRecital 4 a (new): (4a) Territories other than overseas territories of the Member States are grouped over three different time zones or standard times, i.e. GMT, GMT +1 and GMT +2. The large north-south extension of the European Union means that daylight effects of time vary across the Union. It is therefore important that Member States take into consideration the geographical aspects of time, i.e. natural time zones and geographical position, before changing their time zones. Member States should consult citizens and relevant stakeholders before deciding to change their time zones.

AddedRecital 4 b (new): (4b) Summer time, or daylight saving, has enabled later apparent sunsets during the summer months. In the minds of many EU citizens summer is synonymous with sunlight being available late into the evening. A reversion to "standard" time would result in summer sunsets being an hour earlier, with a much-reduced period of the year where late evening daylight is available.

AddedRecital 4 c (new): (4c) 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.

AddedRecital 4 d (new): (4d) Chronobiology shows that the biorhythm of the human body is affected by any changes of time, which may have an adverse impact on health. While for most people it takes a few days to adapt to new changes, certain chronotypes require several weeks or even longer. Certain groups, such as children and older people, are particularly vulnerable. The springtime change is particularly acute, as some studies suggest, for example, that there is a higher rate of ischemic strokes in the first two days after the change. There is also a link between changes of time and cardiovascular diseases linked to the disturbance of the circadian cycle by changes of time.

AddedRecital 4 e (new): (4e) 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.

AddedRecital 4 f (new): (4f) It is widely assumed that seasonal changes of time bring about energy savings. Indeed, it was the main reason for their initial introduction in the past century. Research shows, however, that while the seasonal changes of time may 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 may 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.

AddedRecital 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 functioning of the internal market is not thereby disrupted, Member States should agree on a possible change in standard time in consultation with the other Member States and, where possible, adopt a harmonised approach. In order to prevent the application of summer-time arrangements by some Member States only, 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 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 without delay after receiving all notifications from the Member States.

AddedRecital 5 a (new): (5a) Member States should coordinate among themselves on the standard times for which they opt, which should be as fully harmonised between Member States as possible, in order to avoid excessively different time zones in the Union, so as to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market and make it predictable for the citizens, consumers and sectors concerned. While it is legally not possible to oblige Member States to decide for a dedicated time zone, all efforts should be made to avoid unnecessary complications. Therefore, the Member States should consult among themselves and with the Commission their decisions on discontinuing seasonal time changes. To this end, each Member State should designate one representative to consult the Commission and other Member States.

AddedRecital 7: (7) This Directive should apply from 30 March 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 30 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 25 October 2020, 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 2020 in a concerted manner.

AddedArticle 1: 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 25 October 2020. The Member States shall notify this decision in accordance with Article 2.

AddedArticle 2 – paragraphs 1 and 1a (new): 1a. Member States shall consult all other Member States before taking the decision referred to in paragraph 1. The Commission shall facilitate consultation. Each Member States shall designate one representative responsible for consulting other Member States and the Commission.

AddedArticle 2 – paragraph 2: 2. Within 1 month of the notification, the Commission shall inform the other Member States thereof, publish that information in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Commission shall inform the public in general without delay after receiving all notifications from the Member States.

AddedArticle 3 – paragraph 1: 1. The Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of this Directive by 31 December seven years after the adoption of this Directive at the latest.

AddedArticle 3 – paragraph 2: 2. Member States shall provide the Commission with the relevant information by 30 April seven years after the adoption of this Directive at the latest.

AddedArticle 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1: Member States shall adopt and publish, by 30 March 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.

AddedArticle 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2: They shall apply those provisions from 30 March 2020.

AddedArticle 5: Directive 2000/84/EC is repealed with effect from 30 March 2020.