MEPs voted to end the practice of adjusting clocks by an hour in spring and autumn from 2021.

EU countries that decide to keep their summer time should make their final clock change on the last Sunday in March 2021. Those that prefer to keep their standard (winter) time, can adjust their clocks for the final time on the last Sunday in October 2021, says the draft law approved by MEPs with 410 in favour, 192 against, 51 abstentions.

MEPs backed the Commission proposal to end seasonal time changes, but voted to postpone the date from 2019 to 2021.

Protecting the single market

MEPs also want EU countries and the Commission to coordinate the decisions to ensure that the application of summer time in some countries and winter time in others does not disrupt the internal market.

If the Commission finds that the foreseen time arrangements could significantly, and permanently, hamper the proper functioning of the single market, it may submit a proposal to postpone the date of application of the directive by a maximum of 12 months, says the adopted text.

Next steps

The text adopted is the Parliament’s position for negotiations with EU ministers on the final wording of the rules.