Finland will turn its clocks back by one hour early on Sunday, 25 October, as summer time officially ends across the European Union, despite the country’s support for abolishing the twice-yearly clock change.
At 4am on Sunday, clocks in Finland will be turned back to 3am, returning the country to Eastern European Time (EET) and giving residents an extra hour before the usual daily schedule resumes.
Finland has observed daylight saving time since 1981. The practice involves moving clocks forward in spring to make better use of daylight during the evenings and turning them back in autumn. The seasonal changes have become a common arrangement across the European Union, where member states coordinate the switch on the same dates.
The coordinated system helps maintain consistency in international transport schedules, including rail and air traffic. Sunday morning was chosen for the change because the early hours are generally considered less disruptive to daily activities.
However, the practice has faced growing opposition across Europe, with questions raised about whether changing clocks twice a year remains necessary. Finland is among the countries that want the system to end, but efforts to abolish it across the EU have made little progress.
The European Commission proposed ending seasonal clock changes in 2018. The following year, the European Parliament voted in favour of discontinuing the practice, raising expectations that Europeans would no longer need to adjust their clocks every spring and autumn.
The proposal has since stalled because EU member states have yet to reach a common position. The Council of the European Union cannot move forward with the issue until the necessary positions have been submitted, leaving the proposed reform unresolved.
Finland’s position is therefore at odds with the continued practice of changing clocks twice a year. Although the country supports ending the system, it must continue to follow the existing EU arrangement while the wider decision remains pending.
Earlier this year, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apóstolos Tzitzikostas ordered a report examining the practice. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
According to a press release from Finland’s Ministry of Transport and Communications, the European Commission will begin examining possible further measures once the report has been completed.
For now, the seasonal clock change remains in place. People in Finland will gain an extra hour on Sunday morning, but the longer-running debate over whether Europe should continue changing its clocks remains unresolved.
