MEPs fighting to cancel daylight saving time

This Saturday people will turn their clocks back from daylight saving time. However, the fact that the clock changes twice a year causes various problems. It is supported by several studies. Czech Members of the European Parliament Tomáš Zdechovský (LIBE, CONT) and Pavel Svoboda (JURI - chair, TRAN) have decided to side with the European Citizens' Initiative "For Only One Time".

"Clock changes have negative implications on health of some people. It can disrupt biological rhythms in human body and it can cause numerous physical and psychological difficulties. According to several studies, clock changes lead to increase of work accidents, heart attacks and suicides, especially in the case of men,"  Tomáš Zdechovský MEP describes some of the adverse consequences of this controversial measure. According to him, main reasons for the daylight saving time have shown as unjustified. "It was proven that energy saving, which was one of the main reasons for introduction of clock changes, is practically zero,“ Zdechovský argues against one of the most commonly used reasons in favour of daylight saving time. 

"I have decided to address the European Commission asking whether the topic of introduction of one time is discussed at the European and global level,"  Zdechovský continues.

Member of the Czech Peoples' Party want to convince MEPs from seven Member States to join the initiative

Pavel Svoboda MEP, who is the chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee and a member of the TRAN Committee (dealing with the issue of clock changes), indicates: "Our initiative is so far unique in the EU and therefore we can not find the allies easily. But despite this we are convinced that not only the Citizens' Initiative initiated by Czech Senator Petr Šilar, but also the initiative of the MEPs can bring results. We have to persuade representatives of at least six Member States to join the initiative. The daylight saving time is relic and it costs the states resources on health care for people, who suffer from the clock changes.“