by InTrieste
This Sunday, March 30, at precisely 2:00 a.m. Central European Time (CET), clocks across Italy and the rest of Europe will advance by one hour, marking the annual shift to daylight saving time. While this time-honored tradition grants an extra hour of evening sunlight, it also shaves an hour from sleep—a trade-off that has been observed for more than a century.
Initially implemented before the widespread use of electricity, daylight saving time was designed to maximize natural daylight during working hours. But as Europe prepares to adjust its clocks once again, this could be one of the last times the ritual takes place.
In 2019, the European Parliament voted to abolish the biannual clock change, citing studies that link the practice to negative health effects and questioning its relevance in modern society. The move, however, was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the issue unresolved.
Under the proposal, each of the 27 EU member states would be required to choose between permanent summer time or winter time, with a coordinated approach essential to avoid economic disruption, particularly in cross-border trade. The European Union currently spans three time zones: two countries—Ireland and Portugal, along with the United Kingdom—observe Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), 17 nations use Central European Time (GMT+1), and eight follow Eastern European Time (GMT+2).
One European country has long eschewed the system altogether: Iceland, which remains on GMT throughout the year.
For now, daylight saving time, or Central European Summer Time (CEST), will be in effect until Sunday, October 26, when clocks are set to fall back once more. But whether this cycle will continue in the years to come remains an open question.
