Clocks go back on Sunday 26 October

In Finland, summer time ends and clocks are changed back to Eastern European Time on the night between Saturday and Sunday. Clocks will be changed back by one hour next Sunday, 26 October 2025, at 4 in the morning.

Clocks are changed in all EU Member States at the same time on the same date. Adjusting the clocks at the same time is important for international rail and air traffic, for example. Clocks are always changed on the last Sunday of March and October. Early Sunday morning was chosen as the time causing the least inconvenience because the volume of traffic is at its lowest then.

Finland has observed Daylight Saving Time without interruption since 1981. Switching to summer time and back to winter time is a unified practice within the European Union.

Decision on ending seasonal time changes postponed in the EU

Provisions on changing the clocks are laid down in the EU Directive on summer-time arrangements. The Directive does not allow the arrangements to be discontinued by national decision. If seasonal time changes were to be discontinued, the Directive should be repealed. That is a decision to be made jointly by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.

In 2018, the European Commission proposed that the biannual clock changes be abandoned across the EU. Finland has supported the Commission’s proposal. 

However, the initial target schedule for the proposal has not been met.

In spring 2019, the European Parliament voted in favour of ending seasonal time changes and proposed that clocks be changed for the last time in 2021. However, the proposal is still awaiting consideration by the Council of the EU. Not all Member States have yet taken a stand on the matter, which would be required for it to be considered by the Council. For now, the matter is not under discussion in the Council.

Inquiries:

Miikka Rainiala, Director of Unit, tel. +358 29 534 2051, [email protected]