BRUSSELS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st September, 2018) It was Finland that launched a petition against daylight saving time that gathered more than 70,000 signatures, but now all of Europe has to make a decision on how to proceed.
It makes sense: Finnish people are irritated by daylight saving time as they do not benefit much from it. For people in the northernmost part of the country, the sun does not fully set for weeks during the summer, and does not rise for weeks during the winter.
Finland's move sparked a debate in the European Parliament about whether the current daylight saving rules should be overthrown.
Both the opinions for and against changing time are valid: yes, by changing time, some saving is done in lighting and other energy uses. No, it is not good for health, the body does not adapt easily, and going to school in the dark is dangerous for kids.
Sputnik has talked to some people across Europe, asking about their opinion on the potential change.
"I know it is a bit difficult to wake up in spring when we change time, but the energy of spring and lengthening days help me do it without much problem. The winter and summer time means a lot of electricity savings. We should not forget it," Geert from Belgium said.
Patrick from Switzerland pointed out that his country joined in late, but it "was important to do it."
"Many colleagues at the office from neighboring France were complaining about the different time in Switzerland. It was chaotic at the office each year as time changed. I like the long evenings and the great sunsets on the terrace," Patrick said.
On the other hand, Christine in France said her children had difficulties in the spring when they had to get up an hour earlier.
"I wholeheartedly welcome this initiative. I live in Sundsvall, midway to the North of Sweden and I fully support summer time all year round. In the winter, I have even fallen asleep at 4 pm, not seeing sunlight for several days due to the times I started and finished work," Anders in Sweden said.
The European Commission said in late August that it was aware of an online consultation which showed that the Europeans would like to do away with daylight saving. The poll, which ran from July 4 to August 16, had 4.6 million responses from all 28 states, with 84 percent backing the end of daylight saving.
However, the European Commission has not made the process sufficiently clear. European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc wants the last daylight saving time to be on March 31, 2019. At the same time, member states were given an opportunity to organize their own referendums and polls.
The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg have joined forces to hold their own referendum together in the absence of one for the whole of Europe.
"On major issues for Europe, such as the migration issue, they refuse to organize a referendum and consult the citizens, and for the time change issue, they organize an unclear referendum/consultation/opinion poll and let member states come up with their own 'decision;' a recipe for problems. business and citizens don't need such an inefficient European Commission. We deserve better! At least in the Benelux, we will choose together for the same time. Even our prime minister, Charles Michel, felt obliged to say that it would be absurd not to change time together," Aldo Carcaci, a Belgian lawmaker, told Sputnik.
A central solution for this kind of problem might be preferable, Frederic Timmermans, air traffic controller at Eurocontrol in Belgium, told Sputnik.
"In all the major countries which are federations or confederations (India, China, the USA), it is the central government that settles this kind of problem. It makes sense," Timmermans said.
Timmermans stressed that absence of a single solution for everyone would bring serious problems.
"The UK has the GMT hour, but then on continental Europe, the way it has started, we will have havoc. For air control, airports, rail and road transportation, the situation will be inextricable. How can you be so inefficient at the level of the European Commission. How can you let each country go its own way? Do they think, up there in their offices?" the air traffic controller said.
All European countries have been changing the clock twice a year since 1996. The unified approach was needed to tackle transport and logistical issues.
