Greece, along with all other EU member-states, is getting ready for time change, as daylight savings time (DST) is coming to an end this Sunday.
The annual ritual marks the transition from summer to winter time in Greece and across Europe.
As the nation moves from summer to winter time, Greeks and Europeans in general will once again have to turn their clocks back an hour on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 4:00 AM local time, gaining an additional hour of sleep.
Apart from the EU, the majority of other European nations have also adopted this annual custom, as has been the tradition for quite some time now in an effort to maximize daylight hours and manage energy consumption.
Nonetheless, in the European Union, daylight savings time has faced heated debate in the last several years as to its necessity, and the possibility of abolishing it has been proposed.
EU Commission asked for a ban of daylight savings time
Citing research accounting for the advantages of DST—such as lower electricity usage and increased public health—in 2018, the EU Commission proposed that the obligatory biannual change of clocks be abolished following a three-year transition period.
According to the proposal, by 2021, no EU member state would change its clocks again. However, this decision, along with a vote of support by the European Parliament, soon came to be contested among EU member-states.
It became evident that the EU was powerless in imposing a bloc-wide ban on all member states. Therefore, it was determined that each nation may independently decide whether or not to implement DST on its own.
The different time zones of Europe
From UTC+0 in Western nations such as Portugal and the United Kingdom to UTC+3 in Belarus and parts of Russia and Turkey, the European continent is divided into four major time zones, with the EU having three.
Western European Summer Time (WEST), Central European Summer Time (CEST), Eastern European Summer Time (EEST), and Further-Eastern European Time (FET) are the names given to these time zones throughout the summer.
It is not always geography and the positioning of the Earth in relation to the sun that dictates the time zone of each country, however.
Different time settings are being chosen by EU member states for a variety of reasons, including political alliances, geopolitics, economic interests, daylight hours, and, of course, geographic location.
For instance, Slovenia prefers a permanent winter season, while Croatia favors a year-round summer season that benefits the nation’s economy through an increase in tourism. Because of this lack of common vision, it has been difficult for the EU to come to a single resolution on DST.
Those in favor of abolishing DST in recent years argue that DST has become less necessary due to technological advancements, especially energy-efficient LED lights. However, it is unlikely that a unanimous decision will be reached anytime soon, and the initiative to abolish DST has stalled.
What is the future of daylight savings time?
For the foreseeable future, Greeks and their fellow Europeans will continue to change their clocks twice a year.
The debate surrounding daylight savings time in Greece and across Europe continues to be intense.
There are valid arguments on both sides, as proponents of DST argue that it promotes energy savings, reduces traffic accidents due to improved visibility during evening trips, and provides more daylight for outdoor activities, potentially boosting mental health and the tourism industry.
On the other hand, critics point out that the time change can disrupt the sleep patterns of millions of people, leading to decreased productivity and increased health risks in the short term.
They also argue that potential energy savings are minimal in modern societies and that biannual clock changes lead to unnecessary confusion and inconvenience for individuals and businesses alike.
