Europe switched to winter time on Sunday, reigniting debate over the relevance of seasonal clock changes as more countries and EU officials call for their abolition due to minimal energy savings and negative health effects.

While many welcomed the chance to rest longer, the practice of changing the clocks twice a year continues to face growing criticism.

Introduced in 1976 to save energy following the oil crisis, the measure is now widely seen as outdated. Experts note that the energy savings are minimal, largely thanks to modern low-consumption lighting, while the negative effects on health and road safety are becoming increasingly apparent.

A long-running European debate

The question of whether to scrap clock changes altogether has been debated for years within the European Union. In 2018, after a public consultation in which 84% of nearly four million participants called for its abolition, the European Commission proposed ending the practice. The European Parliament approved the plan, but EU member states, including Luxembourg, have yet to agree on a common approach.

The issue resurfaced last week in Strasbourg, when EU Commissioner for Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas reignited the discussion, saying the system "irritates most of us and harms our wellbeing" without bringing meaningful energy savings. A new study has been commissioned to support arguments in favour of ending the time change.

At a meeting of energy ministers, Spain renewed its call to abolish the seasonal shift, backed by Poland and Finland. Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez argued on social media that changing the clocks twice a year no longer makes any sense, adding that it barely saves energy and has negative effects on people's health and daily lives.