Researchers at Stanford University have concluded that switching between standard time and daylight saving time twice a year disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm — and, in the long term, increases the incidence of strokes and obesity. Their findings suggest that the most beneficial solution would be to abolish the clock change entirely — regardless of whether countries decide to remain permanently on summer or winter time.
Despite strong support from EU citizens and the European Parliament to end the biannual clock change, the European Union still has not reached an agreement.
“The reasons given for continuing to change the clocks first referenced the pandemic, then the need to coordinate with non-EU countries,”
says Kosma Złotowski, Member of the European Parliament (PiS).
“But this is really just a question of aviation and maritime logistics — flight and port slots. Airlines and shipping lines would need to adjust their timetables. That will take several years — unless we approach this more decisively.”
The European Parliament voted in 2019 to abolish seasonal time changes, with the last shift originally scheduled for 2021. Since then, the process has stalled.
“Parliament has done its part — now the ball is in the court of the European Council and the European Commission,”
stresses Złotowski.
“The other challenge is agreeing on the actual time zones. It would be problematic if, for example, Belgium, Germany and France ended up on three different times. Realistically, the EU would have to implement this change as a whole — and the Commission is clearly hesitant to take the initiative.”
Michał Szczerba, MEP from the Civic Coalition, adds:
“It is best that such rules are set at the European level — without undermining national sovereignty, but ensuring coordination.”
Public wants it gone — and the health evidence is growing
In the European Commission’s 2018 public consultation, 84% of Europeans voted to abolish the clock change. In Poland, 78% of respondents opposed it. A 2025 Pollster study shows that 61% of Poles still want it abolished, and over half say they feel its negative effects.
“Everywhere in Europe, the same everyday issues are reported — disrupted sleep, confusion about schedules, trains waiting for an hour or departing at awkward times. Minor inconveniences, yes — but avoidable,”
notes Złotowski.
Stanford Medicine’s latest research confirms the health implications:
– the one-hour sleep loss in March leads to more heart attacks and fatal road accidents,
– long-term modelling suggests that keeping permanent standard time in the U.S. could prevent 300,000 strokes annually and reduce the number of people with obesity by 2.6 million,
– under permanent summer time, the effect would still be significant — 220,000 strokes prevented and 1.7 million fewer obesity cases.
Similar political efforts to end clock changes are ongoing in the United States — but have also stalled.
“This affects quality of life and the labour market”
“We are constantly pushing for the abolition of clock changes. This directly affects workers’ quality of life — especially in ageing societies like Poland and across the EU,”
says Szczerba.
“Not everyone works remotely — services, manufacturing, logistics rely on fixed hours. Global companies with offices across the EU and the UK need clear coordination. This is a simple change with a big human impact.”
