Italian Parliament Committee Supports Ending Daylight Saving Time, but Permanent Clock Consensus Remains Elusive
On October 1, the Attività produttive commission of Italy's Camera dei Deputati endorsed an investigation into the possibility of making daylight saving time a permanent fixture. While most stakeholders are in favor of eliminating the biannual clock adjustments, there remains a lack of agreement on whether to adopt year-round legal time or solar time. Daylight saving, which originated from a 2001 EU directive and is attributed to Benjamin Franklin, gained popularity during World War I. In 2025, it resulted in savings of over €90 million and a reduction of 310 million kWh. Health issues have been noted, including a 4 percent increase in heart attacks and accidents following the March transition. Retail and tourism sectors advocate for a permanent summer time, although ski operators express concerns. Despite public backing, the EU has yet to implement a uniform time system.
Key facts
- On 1 October the Camera dei Deputati's Attività produttive commission unanimously approved conclusions of an inquiry into permanent daylight saving time
- Consulted scientists, doctors, retailers and entrepreneurs agree on abolishing the clock change but not on keeping legal or solar time year-round
- About 70 countries still change clocks; EU daylight saving runs from the last Sunday of March to the last Sunday of October under a 2001 directive
- Terna says daylight saving in 2025 saved over €90 million and 310 million kWh, about 0.1 percent of national annual electricity demand
- Permanent summer time could add 160 million kWh, equal to 0.05 percent of national demand
- A February review of 157 studies in 36 countries found about a 4 percent higher risk of heart attacks and fatal road accidents in the first week after the March change
- With permanent summer time in 2027, Italy would have 81 dark-morning days in Turin, 75 in Milan, 58 in Rome, 47 in Naples, 44 in Palermo and 34 in Bari
- At the 22 December solstice, sunrise would be 9:04 in Turin, 9:00 in Milan, 8:34 in Rome, 8:23 in Naples, 8:19 in Palermo and 8:14 in Bari
- In the US, a House-passed bill backed by President Donald Trump to make daylight saving permanent is blocked in the Senate
- In 2018, 84 percent of 4.6 million polled EU citizens favoured abolishing the clock change; the European Parliament approved abolition in 2019 for 2021 but the Council never agreed
Entities
Artists
- Benjamin Franklin
- Donald Trump
Institutions
- Camera dei Deputati
- Attività produttive commission
- Terna
- European Union
- European Commission
- European Parliament
- Council of the European Union
- US House of Representatives
- US Senate
- Il Post
Locations
- Italy
- Turin
- Milan
- Rome
- Naples
- Palermo
- Bari
- Cadice
- Spain
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Glifada
- Athens
- Greece
- Heudeber
- Germany
- Bormio
- United States