No more time changes? We know the plans for the coming years

Traditionally, throughout the European Union, we switch to winter time on the last Sunday of October and return to summer time on the last Sunday of March.

The date and time of the start and end of the summer time period, common in all Member States, are set by the directive in force since 2001. In turn, the specific dates for the start and end of the summer period are set out in the Communication from the European Commission. The latest such document, from March this year, sets out a schedule of changes for 2027-2031.

In Poland, detailed dates are regulated by the regulation of the Prime Minister, which currently covers the years 2022-2026.

Daylight saving time was introduced over a hundred years ago to use sunlight more efficiently and save electricity. Today, however, experts emphasize that the savings are negligible and the time change itself brings more problems than benefits.

Health and economic impacts

Scientific research leaves no doubts - changing clocks negatively affects our health. Circadian rhythm disturbances can cause problems with sleep, concentration and general well-being.

Time change is also a challenge for the economy. It is most felt by the logistics industries, shift work systems and the financial sector, where every hour is important in global transactions.

Is this the end of time changes?

For several years, there has been a discussion in the European Union about the wisdom of changing clocks. In 2018, the European Commission proposed abolishing time changes, and the European Parliament supported this idea. However, the matter is stuck in the EU Council - member states cannot agree on whether to stick to summer or winter time.

During public consultations, as many as 84 percent of Europeans were in favor of giving up time changes. Despite this, no agreement has been reached to date.

The Polish Presidency tried to return to the topic in the first half of 2025, but most countries maintained their previous positions, pointing to the lack of a comprehensive analysis of the effects of this decision.

What awaits us in the coming years?