COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COM(93) 439 final - SYN469 
Brussels, 27 September 1993 
PROPOSAL FOR A SEVENTH COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
ON SUMMER-TIME ARRANGEMENTS 
(presented by the Commission) 
PROPOSAL FOR A SEVENTH COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
ON SUMMER-TIME ARRANGEMENTS 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. Summer time was introduced by most Member States in the seventies; others had introduced 
it even earlier. 
Community legislation (first Council Directive of 1980) entered into force in 1981. Its sole 
objective was progressively to harmonize the dates for the beginning and end of summer time. 
Community law on the harmonization of the summer-time period stemmed from the need to 
remove the obstacles to the free movement of goods and services which differing national 
summer-time arrangements would create. 
2. This goal has been partially achieved in that the date on which summer time starts is the same 
throughout the Community, whereas the ending date differs since Ireland and the United 
Kingdom availed themselves of the possibility afforded by the sixth Directive to opt for the 
end of October rather than the end of September like the other Member States. 
The Commission recognizes that this situation gives rise to disadvantages, in particular in the 
field of transport and communications. So as to gather as much information as possible on 
the issue, it consulted the representatives of the economic sectors concerned by summer time. 
The vast majority of them favoured full harmonization of summer time, i.e. a common date 
for beginning summer time and a common date for ending it throughout the Community. 
The Commission also had a study carried out on the impact of having different dates for 
returning to winter time and of the costs incurred. The study revealed that over and above 
the numerous drawbacks for consumers and the sectors concerned, the identifiable costs are 
relatively low but they could increase once the Channel tunnel opens. 
3. Contacts with experts from the Member States have enabled the Commission to ascertain that 
the Member States intend to maintain summer-time arrangements, as indeed do a large 
number of non-member countries in Europe which also apply these arrangements in step with 
the Community. 
The Commission therefore proposes to continue working towards full harmonization and 
accordingly to fix the dates and time for the beginning and end of the summer-time period 
after 1994 throughout the Community. Similarly, it would seem appropriate for this 
arrangement to run for a longer period than before, i.e. four years. Furthermore, it appears 
from the Commission study of the impact of having different dates for returning to winter 
time that the end of October would be the most appropriate date: a Eurobarometer survey 
carried out this spring in all Member States revealed that European public opinion is very 
much in favour of having summer time extended until the end of October. 
Nevertheless, in view of certain essential technical requirements to do in particular with the 
time needed to prepare passenger train timetables and assign take-off and landing slots, it is 
proposed for 1995 and 1996 to maintain the status quo as set by the current Directive and 
introduce fully harmonized summer time end-dates from 1997. 
4. Since the measure is aimed at facilitating the provision of services in the transport and 
communications sectors, it is an area where jurisdiction is shared. 
Directive 92/20/EEC of 26 March 1992 already provided for harmonization along the lines 
proposed in this draft directive. All Member States are concerned. At a meeting of 
representatives of the Member States held on 27 May 1993 all Member States said they were 
in favour of maintaining the harmonized Community arrangements. 
$ 
Pursuant to Article 4 of the sixth Directive the Council shall adopt by 1 January 1994the 
arrangements to apply from 1995 onwards. 
The proposed Directive is based on Article 100a, as was the case with the fourth, fifth and 
sixth Directives. 
The procedure for cooperating with the European Parliament must therefore be used. 
SEVENTH COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 
ON SUMMER-TIME ARRANGEMENTS 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 100a thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ', 
In cooperation with the European Parliament2, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee 3, 
Whereas the sixth Council Directive 92/20/EEC of 26 March 1992 on summer time arrangements 4 
introduced a common date and time throughout the Community for the beginning of the summer-time 
period for 1993 and 1994 and, for the end of that period in those years, two different dates, one for 
Member States other than Ireland and the United Kingdom and another for Ireland and the United 
Kingdom; 
Whereas it is important for the functioning of the internal market that a common date and time for 
both the beginning and end of the summer-time period should be fixed throughout the Community 
from 1995 onwards; 
4 OJ nr L 89, 4.4.92, p. 28 
A Whereas, with due regard for subsidiarity, a Community measure is necessary to ensure complete 
harmonization of the timetable with a view to facilitating transport and communications and reducing 
the related costs; 
Whereas the most appropriate date for the end of the summer-time period is the end of October and 
not the end of September as in the past; 
Whereas the summer-time period should finish at the end of October; whereas, however, for technical 
reasons to do with the time needed by certain transport sectors to adjust, summer time for 1995 and 
1996 should finish at the end of September; 
Whereas for those years the summer-time period should continue to end on a different date for Ireland 
and the United Kingdom; 
Whereas Article 4 of the sixth Directive provides that the Council, acting on a proposal from the 
Commission, shall adopt before 1 January 1994 the arrangements to apply from 1995 onwards; 
Whereas, for geographical reasons, common summer-time arrangements should not apply to the 
overseas territories of the Member States; 
Whereas it is appropriate to re-examine the summer-time period from time to time and whereas 
provisions should therefore be adopted for 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998, 
! 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: | 
Article 1 
For the purposes of this Directive, "summer-time period" shall mean the period of the year during 
which clocks are put forward by 60 minutes compared with the rest of the year. 
Article 2 
In each Member State the summer-time period for 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 shall begin at 1 a.m. 
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on the last Sunday in March, i.e.: 
in 1995: on 26 March, 
in 1996: on 31 March, 
in 1997: on 30 March, 
in 1998: on 29 March. 
Article 3 
1. In each Member State the summer-time period for 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 shall end at 
1 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): 
in 1995: on the last Sunday in September, i.e. on 24 September, 
in 1996: on the last Sunday in September, i.e. on 29 September, 
in 1997: on the fourth Sunday in October, i.e. on 26 October, 
in 1998: on the fourth Sunday in October, i.e. on 25 October. 
2. However, in Ireland and in the United Kingdom the summer-time period for 1995 and 1996 
shall end at 1 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on the fourth Sunday in October, i.e.: 
in 1995: on 22 October, 
in 1996: on 27 October. 
Article 4 
The Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt by 1 January 1998 the 
arrangements to apply from 1999 onwards. 
Article 5 
This Directive shall not apply to the overseas territories of the Member States. 
Article 6 
The Member States shall adopt all the laws, regulations and administrative measures necessary to 
comply with this Directive by 31 December 1994 at the latest. They shall immediately inform the 
Commission of the measures they have taken. 
When Member States adopt these provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive and shall 
be accompanied by such reference at the time of their official publication. The procedure for such 
reference shall be adopted by Member States. 
Article 7 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
The President 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(93) 439 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 12 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-93-482-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-59382-2 
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