Politics

Brussels plan to ban changing of the clocks could collapse because it’s illegal


JEAN-CLAUDE Juncker’s bid to force EU countries to scrap the changing of the clocks has descended into farce after lawyers warned his plan may be illegal.

The Commission chief has made ditching summertime a key personal legacy project before he retires in November – despite outcry from Member States.

 Jean Claude Juncker wants to stop Europe changing the clocks

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Jean Claude Juncker wants to stop Europe changing the clocksCredit: AFP

But his plan has been dogged by controversy from the start, with capitals complaining it is ill-thought through and based largely on German concerns.

New legal advice from the EU Council warns the sweeping change may even be deemed overreach and struck down by euro judges if it ever comes into force.

It also bemoans the fact that eurocrats didn’t carry out a proper impact assessment for the proposal.

Mr Juncker wants to force all Member States to choose between permanently adopting either summertime or wintertime from 2021.

The drive is based on a survey of citizens who backed a change – but that sparked controversy when it emerged 70% of all respondents came from Germany.

Critics have also warned the move could create a patchwork of different timezones within Europe and lead to a “time border” in Ireland.

An EU diplomat told The Sun: “There was never enough analysis done in the first place and the policy wasn’t evidence-based.

“Now even the more enthusiastic member states are becoming a bit more skeptical about it.”

A second EU diplomat added: “The legal services have pretty much killed the plan.

“None of the member states have expressed any particular fondness for it, so it’s now up to the Commission to decide what to do with the proposal.”

The new law now looks unlikely to be agreed before Mr Juncker leaves office in the Autumn and may be ditched altogether by the next Commission chief.

A Commission spokesman said: “We submitted a proposal based on prior evaluations that were carried out.

“The proposals are based also on a public consultation and the impact of course of the proposal was assessed as well.

“So we now have to wait for the outcome of the Council working party’s work.”

The President​ ​of the European Commission Jean Claude-Juncker​ says ‘We will not renegotiate Brexit deal’


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