It’s that time of the year again, where people across Europe are mentally preparing to lose a precious hour of sleep as Daylight Saving Time (DST) is days away from taking effect on March 30.
At 3:00 a.m. local time, clocks will skip an hour, jumping to 4:00 a.m., marking the transition to summer time, which brings with it longer days and brighter evenings.
Why Do We Change the Clocks?
The practice of adjusting clocks was introduced to make better use of daylight during the longer days of summer and to reduce energy consumption. The concept gained traction in the 1970s, particularly after the 1973 energy crisis in Europe, leading many countries—including Greece—to adopt the system.
Since 1996, a unified European regulation has been in place, requiring member states to move clocks forward by one hour in the spring and back by one hour in the fall. However, some countries, such as Iceland and Belarus, have opted out of the time change, with Belarus permanently adopting DST in 2011.
The Abandoned Plan to End Daylight Saving Time in Europe
In 2019, the European Parliament voted in favor of abolishing seasonal clock changes by 2021, allowing each member state to decide whether to adopt permanent standard or DST. However, due to Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the proposal was put on hold.
Experts continue to debate the benefits of the system, particularly in light of the energy crisis in Europe. Some studies suggest that keeping DST year-round could lead to energy savings, while others argue that the impact would be minimal.
Most internet-connected devices—such as smartphones, smartwatches, computers, and tablets—automatically update to the new time. However, users are advised to check their settings to ensure the adjustment is made correctly. Analog clocks and other non-digital devices will need to be manually reset.
