This Saturday people will turn their clocks back from daylight saving time. However, clock changes twice a year cause various problems. This fact is supported by several studies. Czech Members of the European Parliament Tomas Zdechovsky (LIBE, CONT) and Pavel Svoboda (JURI – chair, TRAN) therefore decided to fight along with the European Citizens’ Initiative “For Only One Time” for establishment of one time, as the name of the initiative suggests.
“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 rise of number of work accidents, heart attacks and suicides, especially in the case of men,” MEP Tomas Zdechovsky describes some of the adverse consequences of this controversial measure.
According to Zdechovsky, 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,g Zdechovsk? arguments against one of the most commonly used reasons in favour of daylight saving time.
“I therefore decided to turn straight to the European Commission with a question, whether the topic of introduction of one time is considered on the European and global level in cooperation with other states,” Zdechovsky outlines his course of action in this matter.
Member of the Peoples’ Party want to convince MEPs from seven Member States to join the initiative Pavel Svoboda, who is the chairman of the JURI Committee in the European Parliament and a member of the TRANS Committee (dealing with the issue of clock changes) indicates: “Our initiative is so far quite unique in the EU and it cannot be said that we can find allies easily. But despite this we are convinced that not only the Citizens’ Initiative initiated by Czech Senator Petr Silar, but also the initiative of the MEPs can bring positive outcomes. We have to persuade representatives of at least six Member States to join the forces. The daylight saving time is relic and it costs the states resources on health care for people, who suffer from the clock changes.
