The French government has officially ruled out any return to the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) time zone, according to a statement issued on May 30, 2026. The decision reaffirms France's commitment to Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) during winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) during summer.
This announcement follows years of debate over time zone changes, particularly after the European Union's 2018 proposal to abolish seasonal clock changes. France, like many EU members, has not implemented the change due to lack of consensus among member states.
France has used CET since 1940, when it was imposed during the German occupation. After World War II, the country chose to remain on CET rather than revert to GMT (UTC+0), which would align it more closely with its geographic longitude.
The government cited economic and social reasons for maintaining the current system, including alignment with neighboring countries like Germany and Italy, which also use CET. A return to GMT would have created a one-hour time difference with these key trading partners.
Public opinion on the issue remains divided. A 2019 European Commission consultation found that 84% of EU respondents opposed seasonal clock changes, but no consensus emerged on which permanent time zone to adopt.
