“The next seasonal change takes place on 31 October and I repeat what I said six months ago, when I was last asked this question, when I repeated what I had said six months earlier as well: the Commission proposed to end the seasonal change of time in September 2018 […] and this received the support of the European Parliament (EP) in 2019 and the ball is now with the Member States, who have to reach a common position in the Council”, said the European Commission's daily spokesperson for Public Health, Stefan de Keersmaecker, responding to a question on the subject.

The proposal to abolish the time shift was presented in 2018 by the community executive, but the discussion was blocked by the divergence in the EU Council.

The 27 Member States, which are responsible for deciding on the matter, have not yet reached a common position on the matter, and Prime Minister, António Costa, announced in 2018 that, based on a recommendation in the report by the Lisbon Astronomical Observatory, in August 2018, that seasonal changes are to be maintained.

The proposal was presented by the European Commission in 2018 — following a public consultation carried out in all Member States in which the overwhelming majority of respondents (84 percent) were in favour of ending seasonal hour shifts.

Faced with deadlock in the Council, on Sunday, 31 October, the time will change once more and the hands of the clock will be set back 60 minutes - from two to one in the morning - when winter time comes into force.