Moldova to decide whether to give up turning to summer time by publication of European directive’s evaluation results

Chisinau, 13 February /MOLDPRES/ – The Government of Moldova will decide whether or not to turn to summer time after the Council of Europe adopts amendments to Directive 2000/84/EC on summertime provisions. The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission to carry out an evaluation of Directive 2000/84/EC on 13 February 2018 and, if needed, submit proposals for its revision, the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure’s information and media communication service has reported.

The European MPs argued that more initiatives showed some concern over biannual change of time schedule, marking beginning and end of summer period, which takes place on the last Sunday of March and October, respectively. Several studies also indicate upon some health effects.

The time change directive, which entered into force in 2001, sets a common date and time for the start and end of summer period in EU.

the move to the summer time would be on 25 March 2018. On this day, at 02:00 a.m., summer time is changed by transferring clocks one hour ahead. This 1 – hour shift is practised in Moldova, as well as neighbouring countries Romania and Ukraine, as a means of saving electricity. Over the years, proposals have been made to give up this practice, being invoked with some damage to health of older persons or those ones suffering from certain chronic diseases.

The National Metrology Institute (INM) along with representatives of the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE), Energy Efficiency Agency (AEE), Institute of Physiology and Sanocreatology (IFS) of ASM, Institute of Energy (IE) of ASM, State University of Medicine and Pharmacy (USMF), at the request of the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure (MEI), conducted a study in 2017 as to elucidate the opportunity for Moldova to turn to summer schedule, which was considered to be appropriate.

(Editor M. Jantovan)