Tonight, the clocks will go back by one hour due to daylight saving time, but this could be the last time it happens in Albania.
In 1996, all European countries adopted the same calendar for daylight saving time with clocks going back by one hour in October and forward one hour in March. In 2018, the European Parliament approved the abolition of the obligation for member states to comply with the calendar. As of April 2021, each state is free to decide individually whether it will continue or not.
Countries in the North of Europe including Finland and Poland are pushing for an end to daylight saving time while those in the South are keen for it to continue.
The concept was originally to save coal and candles and also to allow those working in agriculture and outdoors, more time to conduct their work. Today, it is predominantly to allow energy saving through less use of electronic lighting.
Countries are obliged to decide whether they will continue using daylight saving time or not, by April 2021.
