Estonians weigh in: Should daylight saving time be abolished in the EU?

A street poll conducted for the Estonian show 'Pealkirja taga' suggests most Estonians would like to see the practice of changing clocks come to an end. The EU has been debating abolishing daylight saving time for years without reaching an agreement. One respondent called the practice 'completely absurd in the 21st century.'

Estonians appear largely in favour of scrapping daylight saving time, according to a street poll featured on the Estonian current affairs programme 'Pealkirja taga'. The survey found that more respondents supported ending the biannual clock change than wished to keep it.

The European Union has been discussing abolishing the practice for several years, but member states have so far failed to reach a consensus on the matter. The debate stalled partly over disagreement on whether countries should permanently adopt summer or winter time.

«It is completely absurd that we are still doing this in the 21st century!» said one person interviewed on the streets of Tallinn, echoing a sentiment that appeared to be widely shared among those questioned. Critics argue that the twice-yearly time shift disrupts sleep patterns and offers negligible benefits in modern society.

Proponents of keeping the current system, however, argue that lighter summer evenings benefit outdoor activities, tourism, and general wellbeing. Some also point out that harmonising a decision across all 27 EU member states — each with different sunrise and sunset times — remains a significant logistical challenge.

For now, Estonians along with the rest of the EU will continue adjusting their clocks until a political agreement is reached in Brussels. With public opinion seemingly tilting toward abolition in Estonia, the question remains whether EU lawmakers will finally bring the long-running debate to a close.