Finland urged to press EU for end to daylight savings time

Over 70,000 citizens sign petition pressing for axing of seasonal time-shift on grounds that it leads to sleeping disorders and mental health issues

People enjoy a sunnny day at the Esplanade in Helsinki (Ints Kalnins/Reuters)

The Finnish government should actively push the European Union (EU) to abolish its directive on daylight savings time, a parliamentary committee said on Thursday.

The parliamentary transport and communications committee gave its recommendation to the government after more than 70,000 Finns signed a citizens petition asking the state to give up the practice.

Under daylight saving time clocks move forward by one hour during summer months so that daylight lasts longer into evening. Most of North America and Europe follows the custom, while the majority of countries elsewhere do not.

The committee said that after hearing several experts, it concluded that people do not adapt smoothly to the changes.

It added that turning the clocks caused short-term sleeping disorders, reduced performance at work and could also lead to serious health problems.

“The primary objective should be to abolish the clock movements on uniform basis throughout the EU,” the committee said in a statement.

Reuters