The EU is doing away with the twice-yearly clock changes and has given member states until April to decide if they will remain on summer or winter time. But there are fears Europe is heading for time-zone chaos.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/V. Mayo
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European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc on Friday announced that the EU will stop the twice-yearly changing of clocks across the continent in October 2019.
The practice, which was used as a means to conserve energy during the World Wars as well as the oil crises of the 1970s, became law across the bloc in 1996.
All EU countries are required to move forward by an hour on the last Sunday of March and back by an hour on the final Sunday in October.
Bulc said EU member states would have until April 2019 to decide whether they would permanently remain on summer or winter time.
Bulc said she was counting on member states and the European Parliament to keep pace with the Commission's "ambitious" schedule. She also noted the need to find consensus among the member states in order to avoid confusing time jumps.
The plan also raises the prospect of neighboring countries ending up an hour apart.
"In order to maintain a harmonised approach we are encouraging consultations at national levels to ensure a coordinated approach of all member states," Bulc said.
The decision to tackle the issue was prompted after the Commission launched an online survey. Some 4.6 million Europeans answered the survey — three million of those respondents were from Germany — with 80 percent of them voting to scrap the practice.
Though critics say that is only a small percentage of the bloc's population, the European Commission argues it is doing what voters expect of it: dealing with big issues.
Health problems and little savings
Those who oppose daylight savings say that it has become obsolete thanks to other more efficient energy-saving technologies such as LED lights. "We are clearly headed toward smart cities, smart buildings and smart solutions which will bring much more savings than changes of the clock," said Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic.
Critics have also cited long-term health problems, sleep-related issues and the reduced concentration that often accompanies the twice-yearly change. Proponents of daylight savings have long argued that it benefits public safety as well as saving energy.
Merkel is a fan
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is in favor of the move, telling German public broadcaster ZDF: "The people want it, so we will do it." And German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently spoke on the topic during a trip to Nigeria, saying: "I personally think it's a very high priority."
Europe's most beautiful clocks
Early on Sunday morning, the clocks in Europe move back one hour as we switch from summer to winter time. As time is on our minds, here are some of the most beautiful clocks in Europe.
Image: DW
Big Ben in London
Europe's most famous clock tower stands in London. Known affectionately as Big Ben, the tower is officially called Elizabeth Tower. Big Ben correctly refers to only the largest and heaviest of the five bells. The "Voice of Britain" tune played by the bells usually chimes every hour.
Image: Ben Stansall/AFP
Astronomical Clock in Prague
The Astronomical Clock at Prague's Town Hall dates from 1410 and is a Gothic masterpiece. Legend says that city authorities burned out clockmaker Mikulas of Kadan's eyes so he couldn't make similarly spectacular clocks for other countries, as he was being requested. Whether fact or fiction, it's certainly unique. The 12 apostles delight visitors with their puppet play.
Image: picture-alliance/chromorange/Bilderbox
World Time Clock in Berlin
The World Time Clock on Alexanderplatz is a more recent model. It was designed in East Germany by industrial designer Erich John and was presented to the public in 1969. Since then, it has become a popular meeting place for Berliners and tourists alike. At the top is a simplified model of our solar system, and the cylinder below shows the time in each of Earth's 24 time zones.
Image: Stefan Ziese/imageBROKER/picture alliance
Clock of Flowing Time in Berlin
A less well-known but all the more interesting clock is located in Berlin's Europa-Center shopping mall. The 13-meter (43-foot) high chronometer from 1982 covers three floors. Here you can watch the flow of time. The level of green liquid in the large spheres on the left shows the hours, while the small spheres on the right count the minutes.
Image: picture-alliance/Eibner-Pressefoto
Zytglogge in Bern
When it comes to clocks, Switzerland is a hot destination. The Zytglogge, the clock tower from 1530, is the landmark of the capital, Bern. On the hour, tourists can watch the figures depicting the golden hour.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Sputnik/A. Filippov
Astronomical Clock in Strasbourg
This Renaissance masterpiece in the Strasbourg Cathedral was also built by Swiss clockmakers. The apostles and the four ages, personified as children, juveniles, adults and the elderly, start moving every day at 12:30 p.m. They all pass by a figure representing death.
Image: picture-alliance/Arco Images GmbH/G. Lenz
World's largest cuckoo clock in Triberg
Cuckoo clocks, alongside red Bollenhut bobble hats and cherry and chocolate gateau, are the symbols of the Black Forest in southwestern Germany. So it's no wonder that the world's largest cuckoo clock can be found here in Triberg. The movement alone weighs 6 tons. The cuckoo is impressive — at the full and half hour, the 4.5-meter (14-foot) wooden bird calls from its window on the first floor.
Image: Stadtverwaltung Triberg
Glockenspiel in Munich
Two or three times a day, the glockenspiel figures make their big appearance at Munich City Hall. The life-size figures depict two events from Munich's city history: the wedding of Duke Wilhelm V. in 1568 and the coopers' dance, depicting their defiance after a devastating plague epidemic. While it may be historic, the glockenspiel is operated in a very modern way — with solar energy.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Warmuth
Anchor Clock in Vienna
Designed by the art nouveau painter Franz Matsch, Vienna's best-known clock adorns a small bridge on the Hoher Markt square. In the course of 12 hours, 12 copper figures from Vienna's history cross the bridge. At noon, all the figures hold a musical parade, among them Empress Maria Theresa and composer Joseph Haydn. During Advent, there are Christmas carols at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
In Austria, the Clock Tower of Graz, located on the Schlossberg, is visible from afar. Its special feature is that the hour and minute hands are reversed. Originally, there was only one large hand for the hours so that it could be seen from a distance. Later, the small minute hand was added.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Votava
Torre dell'orologio in Venice
The astronomical clock on St. Mark's Square displays not just the time but also the current zodiac sign as well as the phases of the moon and the sun. Until the last restoration in 1998, the "Temperatore," the tower guard, lived in the tower with his family. Since 2006, the clock has been monitored digitally.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Engelhardt
House of Magic in Blois
Although it's not exactly a real clock, the dragon heads in the central French city of Blois still keep time. Every half hour they appear at the windows and move in a terrifying way. Behind the facade is a museum that provides a glimpse into the history of magic since the father of modern magic, Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin, was born in Blois in 1805.
