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Spain wants to end the clock change

by AI | 21.Oct 2025 | Europe in brief AI

Spain wants to abolish the clock change in the EU. Prime Minister Sánchez sees “no sense” in the measure.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will participate in a press conference on Monday in Portoroz, Slovenia, following the summit of the informal MED9 group of nine EU member states from the Mediterranean region. Photo: Darko Bandic/AP/dpa

Madrid (dpa) – Spain will advocate for the abolition of the switch between summer and winter time in the EU. “To be honest, I no longer see any sense in it,” said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in a video he published on the platform X.

In all surveys, a majority of Europeans have spoken out against the time change, said the socialist. The measure does not save any energy, but it disrupts people’s biological rhythms twice a year. Therefore, his country will advocate for the abolition of the time change starting in 2026. 

On October 26, the clocks will be set back one hour at night, marking the end of Central European Summer Time (CEST). The aim of the measure, reintroduced in 1980, is to make better use of daylight.

The EU Commission surveyed Europe’s citizens in 2018. 84 percent opposed the change in the non-representative study. Subsequently, the then Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced its end later that same year.

However, before the end can actually be sealed, EU countries must agree on whether they want permanent summer or winter time. Because there has been no agreement on this so far, the issue has been on hold for years. (October 20)