The old controversy over daylight saving time has resurfaced in EU institutions, this time driven by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Spain has revived the debate on abolishing the biannual clock change across the European Union—a proposal that has languished for years in Brussels’ bureaucracy.
The Socialist government claims the initiative stems from concerns about energy efficiency and public health. Yet in Spain, many see it as a smokescreen meant to deflect attention from the mounting corruption scandals surrounding Sánchez’s administration.
The document, submitted by Spain to the EU Council on October 20th, stresses that “no energy gains have been found from daylight-saving time” and cites international studies showing that electricity use may actually rise due to increased heating and cooling needs. The proposal calls for renewed negotiations to eliminate the practice, reminding the Council that the European Commission already tried to do so in 2018 after a public consultation in which 84% of Europeans voted to end it.
However, the initiative has been met with skepticism both inside and outside Spain. In Brussels, diplomats and officials admit there is neither urgency nor political consensus to reopen the issue, suggesting that Sánchez is attempting to project a reformist image while his government faces mounting corruption allegations involving the Socialist Party (PSOE).
Spanish political sources say the Spanish premier is seeking “international oxygen” and a positive European agenda that can distract national public opinion. In recent months, scandals involving public contracts, irregular financing, and nepotism have severely damaged the government’s credibility.
Against this backdrop, Sánchez appears eager to regain visibility through a harmless, easily marketable topic that poses no major political risks. Ending daylight saving is one of those ‘soft causes’ that tend to attract public sympathy without addressing the country’s deeper structural problems.
European Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas acknowledged this week that “clock changes no longer serve any purpose” and pledged to “look into the matter,” though without making any firm commitments. In truth, the EU’s plan to abolish daylight saving has been frozen since 2019, when member states failed to agree on which time to adopt permanently.
Finland and Poland back Spain’s position, arguing that time changes harm citizens’ health and productivity. Other countries, such as Portugal and Greece, remain opposed, fearing negative effects on trade and international connections. Any decision would require a qualified majority—15 countries representing at least 65% of the EU population—a target that looks unrealistic for now.
