France Sets Clocks Back Amid Ongoing Debate Over Daylight Saving Time

Despite calls for its abolition, the biannual clock change continues due to unresolved EU discussions and energy concerns.

France transitioned to winter time this weekend, turning clocks back one hour, a practice established in 1976 to conserve energy after the oil crisis.
Originally intended to save energy, the clock change's benefits are now considered marginal due to advancements in energy-efficient lighting.
Public opinion in Europe has shifted, with a majority favoring the abolition of the time change, yet EU consensus on a permanent time is lacking.
Efforts to end the practice stalled due to complications from Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the issue unresolved at the EU level.
Critics cite negative impacts on health and safety, such as disrupted sleep patterns and increased road accidents, as reasons to end the time change.