Lithuania switches to daylight saving time

Lithuania transitioned to daylight saving time overnight from Saturday to Sunday, moving clocks forward by one hour, LRT reports.

The change took effect at 3:00 AM local time, with clocks adjusted to 4:00 AM. Daylight saving time will remain in place for seven months, until the end of October.

In Lithuania, clocks are set forward on the last Sunday of March and back on the last Sunday of October. The practice aligns with EU-wide seasonal time adjustments.

The European Commission proposed abolishing seasonal time changes in 2018, but discussions stalled amid disagreements among member states. A 2018 public consultation found 84% of 6.4 million respondents favoured ending the practice, and the European Parliament supported reform in 2019. However, opposition from some countries halted progress.

Spain revived the debate last autumn, urging the Commission to reassess the policy. A new impact study is underway, with results expected this summer. Lithuania’s Transport Ministry has stated support for ending time changes but acknowledges that EU-wide consensus remains unlikely in the near term.

Northern EU countries have repeatedly raised concerns, citing research that seasonal time shifts negatively affect around 20% of Europeans, causing physical or psychological strain.