Europe's seasonal clock changes will continue on October 25, 2026, when clocks in much of the continent move back from 3 a.m. to 2 a.m. The transition brings earlier morning daylight and earlier evening darkness, while allowing those not working overnight an additional hour of sleep. The practice has historical roots in energy policy: France introduced summer time in 1976 in response to the oil crisis, aiming to conserve energy. West Germany and other EU states followed in 1980 to align their time arrangements. That energy-saving justification is now widely considered outdated.
An attempt at reform followed. In a 2018 EU-wide consultation, 84% of respondents favored abolishing seasonal clock changes. The European Parliament subsequently endorsed the European Commission's proposal in 2019 by 410 votes to 192. Although implementation was originally intended for 2021, the legislation has not received the approval required from EU member states.
The central obstacle remains disagreement over whether summer time or winter time should become permanent. Divergent national systems could create economic and organizational complications, leaving implementation suspended until countries reach a coordinated solution. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine displaced the issue among political priorities. Despite the earlier parliamentary vote and substantial support among consultation respondents, the unresolved disagreement between governments makes an end to twice-yearly clock changes unlikely in the near future.
