PROPOSAL FOR AN EIGHTH EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON SUMMER-TIME ARRANGEMENTS

Proposal for an eighth European Parliament and Council Directive on summer-time arrangements (96/C 342/05) COM(96) 106 final - 96/0082(COD)

(Submitted by the Commission on 26 April 1996) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 100a thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 189b of the Treaty,

Whereas the seventh European Parliament and Council Directive 94/21/EC of 30 May 1994 on summer-time arrangements (1) introduced a common date and time throughout the Community for the beginning of summer time in 1995, 1996 and 1997; whereas the seventh Directive retained two different dates for the end of summer time in 1995, one for Member States other than Ireland and the United Kingdom and one for Ireland and the United Kingdom, but nonetheless introduced a common date and time for the end of summer time in 1996 and 1997;

Whereas, given that the Member States apply summer-time arrangements, it is important for the functioning of the internal market that a common date and time for the beginning and end of the summer-time period be fixed throughout the Community;

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;

Whereas the Member States consider the end of October to be the most appropriate date for the end of the summer-time period; whereas this date should therefore be maintained;

Whereas Article 4 of the seventh Directive lays down that the European Parliament and the Council must adopt by 1 January 1997 the arrangements to apply from 1998 onwards;

Whereas, for geographical reasons, common summer-time arrangements should not apply to the overseas territories of the Member States;

Whereas, for reasons of timetabling, particularly in the transport and communications sectors, a timetable of summer-time arrangements should be set for a sufficiently long period; whereas provisions ought therefore to be adopted for 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

HAVE 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 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 shall begin at 1 a. m. Greenwich Mean Time on the last Sunday in March, i.. e.:

- in 1998: on 29 March,

- in 1999: on 28 March,

- in 2000: on 26 March,

- in 2001: on 25 March.

Article 3

In each Member State the summer-time period for 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 shall end at 1 a. m. Greenwich Mean Time on the last Sunday in October, i. e.:

- in 1998: on 25 October,

- in 1999: on 31 October,

- in 2000: on 29 October,

- in 2001: on 28 October.

Article 4

The arrangements to apply from 2002 onwards shall be adopted before 1 January 2001 on a proposal from the Commission presented before 1 January 2000.

Article 5

This Directive does not apply to the overseas territories of the Member States.

Article 6

The Member States shall adopt all the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 31 December 1997 at the latest. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

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 detailed arrangements for such reference shall be adopted by Member States.

Article 7

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

(1) OJ No L 164, 30. 6. 1994, p. 1.