Keeping track of time zones can be cumbersome and it can get worse when the countries in the EU themselves have to decide whether they want permanent summer time or ditto normal time.

The European Commission thought that the time change would be abolished as early as last autumn, but the issue proved to be difficult to resolve.

- In order for Europe not to become a patchwork of different time zones, proper coordination between the countries is required, and it will take time.

In addition, we are in the middle of a pandemic, so there are more important things for the EU to deal with, says Minister of Infrastructure Tomas Eneroth (S), whose ministry handles the issue on behalf of Sweden.

The schedule is cracked

According to the European Parliament, March 2021 would be the last time the clock was turned and the following October the last time it would be reset, but then only in those countries that have decided on permanent normal time.

But since no country has yet given notice of how they want it, the schedule has cracked.

And the decision is complicated.

Normally time zones follow the geography: The further east a place is, the farther the sun has had time to pass over the sky at a given time and the more the clock.

But if politicians in the various EU countries are allowed to choose their own time, there is a risk that the Union will turn into a jumble of time zones that could disrupt the internal market.

An example: Today, Spain and Poland are in the same time zone.

But if Spain were to choose summer time and Poland normal time, the former country would end up in a more eastern time zone, despite the fact that it is geographically several hundred miles further west.

If Spain were to choose permanent summer time and Poland permanent normal time, the city of La Coruña would end up in a time zone east of Polish Bialystok.

Photo: Google maps

Even in Central Europe, where a large number of countries border each other, it risks becoming messy.

And the hour that today separates Sweden and Finland might disappear.

Alternatively, double or stay the same.

"National considerations"

- It is clear that there are many national considerations that the different countries would like to take and I actually believe that the current order, when the EU determines the framework, works relatively well, says Tomas Eneroth.

It is the Riksdag that decides whether Sweden should have summer or normal time, but the issue is currently not a priority.

According to the Minister of Infrastructure, it has also cooled at EU level.

He predicts that it may take several years before the issue is brought up again.

In other words: Set yourself to reset the clocks for a while longer.