Central European Time

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European Countries that using the Central Europe Time plus Longitude 15deg E Countries using Central Europe Time plus Longitude 15deg E.png
European Countries that using the Central Europe Time plus Longitude 15° E
In the map; countries marked red in Africa use the West African Time zone (WAT) that is identical to the CET, because it is also based on the longitude 15deg E UTC+1 time zones in africa plus longitude 15deg east from greenwich.png
In the map; countries marked red in Africa use the West African Time zone (WAT) that is identical to the CET, because it is also based on the longitude 15° E

Central European Time (CET) is a standard time of Central, and parts of Western Europe, which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The time offset from UTC can be written as UTC+01:00. It is used in most parts of Europe and in a few North African countries. CET is also known as Middle European Time (MET, German: MEZ) and by colloquial names such as Amsterdam Time, Berlin Time, Brussels Time, Budapest Time, Madrid Time, Paris Time, Rome Time, Prague time, Warsaw Time or Romance Standard Time (RST).

Contents

The 15th meridian east is the central axis per UTC+01:00 in the world system of time zones.

As of 2023, all member states of the European Union observe summer time (daylight saving time), from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. States within the CET area switch to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+02:00) for the summer. [1]

In Africa, UTC+01:00 is called West Africa Time (WAT), where it is used by several countries, year round. [2] Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia also refer to it as Central European Time. [3]

Usage

Usage in Europe

The '15th Meridian' monument in Stargard, Poland Stargard 15 Poludnik.JPG
The '15th Meridian' monument in Stargard, Poland

Current usage

As of 2017, [4] Central European Time is currently used in Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo ( partially recognised as an independent country), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (except the Canary Islands), Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City. [3]

History

After World War II Monaco, Andorra and Gibraltar implemented CET. [19]

Portugal used CET in the years 1966–1976 and 1992–1996.

United Kingdom

The time around the world is based on Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) which is roughly synonymous with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). From late March to late October, clocks in the United Kingdom are put forward by one hour for British Summer Time (BST). Since 1997, most of the European Union aligned with the British standards for BST.

In 1968 [23] there was a three-year experiment called British Standard Time, when the UK and Ireland experimentally employed British Summer Time (GMT+1) all year round; clocks were put forward in March 1968 and not put back until October 1971. [24]

Central European Time is sometimes referred to as continental time in the UK.

Other countries

Several African countries use UTC+01:00 all year long, where it is known as West Africa Time (WAT), although Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia use the term Central European Time despite being in North Africa. [3]

Between 2005 and 2008, Tunisia observed daylight saving time. [25] Libya also used CET during the years 1951–1959, 1982–1989, 1996–1997 and 2012–2013.

For other countries see UTC+01:00 and West Africa Time.

Discrepancies between official CET and geographical CET

ColourLegal time vs local mean time
1 h ± 30 min behind
0 h ± 30 min
1 h ± 30 min ahead
2 h ± 30 min ahead
3 h ± 30 min ahead
European winter Tzdiff-Europe-winter.png
European winter
European summer Tzdiff-Europe-summer.png
European summer

The criteria for drawing time zones is based on many factors including: legal, political, economic, and physical or geographic. Consequently, time zones rarely adhere to meridian lines. The CET time zone, were it drawn by purely geographical terms, would consist of exactly the area between meridians 7°30′ E and 22°30′ E. As a result, there are European locales that despite lying in an area with a "physical" or "nominal" UTC+01:00 time, actually use another time zone (UTC+02:00 in particular – there are no "physical" UTC+01:00 areas that employ UTC+00:00). Conversely, there are European areas that have gone for UTC+01:00, even though their "physical" time zone is UTC (typically), UTC−01:00 (westernmost Spain), or UTC+02:00 (e.g. the very easternmost parts of Norway, Sweden, Poland and Serbia). On the other hand, people in Spain still have all work and meal hours one hour later than France and Germany despite sharing the same time zone. [26] Historically Gibraltar maintained UTC+01:00 all year until the opening of the land border with Spain in 1982, when it followed its neighbour and introduced CEST. The following is a list of such "incongruences":

Areas within UTC+01:00 longitudes using other time zones

These areas are between 7°30′ E and 22°30′ E ("physical" UTC+1) [27] [28]

Areas using UTC+02:00

Areas outside UTC+01:00 longitudes using UTC+01:00 time

These areas are either west of 7°30′ E or east of 22°30′ E (outside nominal UTC+01:00) [27] [28]

Areas between 22°30′ W and 7°30′ W (nominal UTC−01:00)

  • The westernmost part of mainland Spain (Galicia, e.g. the city of A Coruña); Cape Finisterre and nearby points in Galicia, at 9°18′ W, are the westernmost places of CET in Spain.
  • The Norwegian island of Jan Mayen lies entirely within this area and extends nearly as far west as Cape Finisterre, with its western tip at 9°5′ W and its eastern tip at 7°56′ W.
  • Western Morocco including the city of Casablanca, at 7°35′ W. CET usage in Morocco extends as west as 13°10′ W.
  • The entirety of Western Sahara with its western tip at 17°6′ W and its eastern tip at 8°40′ W.

Areas between 7°30′ W and 7°30′ E (nominal UTC+00:00)

Areas between 22°30′ E and 37°30′ E (nominal UTC+02:00)

Map of Petsamo area in northern Finland/Soviet Union/Russia. The green area is the Finnish part of the Rybachi peninsula (Kalastajasaarento) which was ceded to the Soviet Union after the Winter War. The Red area is the Janiskoski-Niskakoski area ceded to the USSR in 1947. Petsamo.png
Map of Petsamo area in northern Finland/Soviet Union/Russia. The green area is the Finnish part of the Rybachi peninsula (Kalastajasaarento) which was ceded to the Soviet Union after the Winter War. The Red area is the Jäniskoski-Niskakoski area ceded to the USSR in 1947.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western European Summer Time</span> Time zone (UTC+01:00)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western European Time</span> Time zone in Europe equal to UTC

Western European Time is a time zone covering parts of western Europe and consists of countries using UTC+00:00. It is one of the three standard time zones in the European Union along with Central European Time and Eastern European Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer time in Europe</span> Variation of standard clock time

Summer time in Europe is the variation of standard clock time that is applied in most European countries in the period between spring and autumn, during which clocks are advanced by one hour from the time observed in the rest of the year, with a view to making the most efficient use of seasonal daylight. It corresponds to the notion and practice of daylight saving time (DST) to be found in some other parts of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern European Time</span> Time zone in Eastern Europe (GMT +2)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central European Summer Time</span> Daylight saving time in the Central European time zone

Central European Summer Time, sometimes referred to as Central European Daylight Time (CEDT), is the standard clock time observed during the period of summer daylight-saving in those European countries which observe Central European Time during the other part of the year. It corresponds to UTC+02:00, which makes it the same as Eastern European Time, Central Africa Time, South African Standard Time, Egypt Standard Time and Kaliningrad Time in Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moscow Time</span> Time zone in western Russia (UTC+3)

Moscow Time is the time zone for the city of Moscow, Russia, and most of western Russia, including Saint Petersburg. It is the second-westernmost of the eleven time zones of Russia. It has been set to UTC+03:00 without DST since 26 October 2014; before that date it had been set to UTC+04:00 year-round on 27 March 2011.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTC+02:00</span> Identifier for a time offset from UTC of +2

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTC+03:00</span> Identifier for a time offset from UTC of +3

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Russia</span> Time spanning Europe and Asia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">UTC+00:00</span> Identifier for the UTC +0 offset

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Europe</span> Time zones in Europe

Europe spans seven primary time zones, excluding summer time offsets. Most European countries use summer time and harmonise their summer time adjustments; see Summer time in Europe for details.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylight saving time by country</span>

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Time in the Kingdom of the Netherlands is denoted by Central European Time during the winter as standard time in the Netherlands, which is one hour ahead of coordinated universal time (UTC+01:00), and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during the summer as daylight saving time, which is two hours ahead of coordinated universal time (UTC+02:00). The Caribbean Netherlands – which consist of the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba – all observe Atlantic Standard Time (AST) year-round, which is four hours behind coordinated universal time (UTC−04:00).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Poland</span>

Time in Poland is given by Central European Time. Daylight saving time, which moves an hour ahead, is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. This is shared with several other EU member states.

In North Macedonia, the standard time is Central European Time. Daylight saving time is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. This is shared with several other EU member states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Time in Svalbard</span>

Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean belonging to the Kingdom of Norway, uses Central European Time (CET) during the winter as standard time, which is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+01:00), and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during the summer as daylight saving time, which is two hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+02:00). This is shared with the rest of Norway, as is Svalbard's use of daylight saving time, which the territory observes annually by advancing the clock forward on the last Sunday in March and back again on the last Sunday in October. However, as Svalbard experiences midnight sun during the summer due to being located north of the Arctic Circle, it gives daylight saving time no utility, and is only observed in order to make communicating with Norway Proper more convenient. At the 74th parallel north, the midnight sun lasts 99 days and polar night 84 days, while the respective figures at the 81st parallel north are 141 and 128 days.

References

  1. ↑ Buckle, Anne; Gundersen, Mathew (Feb 17, 2023). "DST Start in Europe 2023". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  2. ↑ "WAT – West Africa Time (Time Zone Abbreviation)". timeanddate.com. Archived from the original on Jul 19, 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  3. 1 2 3 "Central European Time Zone - CET". WorldTimeServer.com. 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  4. ↑ "Central European Time – CET Time Zone". www.timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  5. ↑ "Time Zone & Clock Changes in Belgrade, Serbia". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  6. ↑ Kunt, Miroslav (2004). "Studie - Zavedení středoevropského času". archiv.kvalitne.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  7. 1 2 Bartky, Ian R. (2007). One Time Fits All: The Campaigns for Global Uniformity. Stanford University Press. pp. 126–7. ISBN   978-0804756426 . Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "Time Zone & Clock Changes in Valletta, Malta". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  9. ↑ "Time Zone & Clock Changes in Vienna, Vienna, Austria". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  10. ↑ "Time Zone & Clock Changes in Rome, Italy". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  11. ↑ Messerli, Jakob (Jan 25, 2015). "Zeitsysteme". Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz - Schweizer Geschichte (in German). Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  12. ↑ "dullophob". www.dullophob.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  13. ↑ "Time Zone & Clock Changes in Copenhagen, Denmark". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  14. ↑ "Daylight Saving Time Changes 1895 in Oslo, Norway". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  15. ↑ "Time Zone & Clock Changes in Stockholm, Sweden". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  16. ↑ "Daylight Saving Time Changes 1904 in Luxembourg, Luxembourg". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  17. ↑ "Daylight Saving Time Changes 1918 in Luxembourg, Luxembourg". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  18. ↑ "Time Zone & Clock Changes in Tirana, Albania". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "CET - Central European Time". www.thetimenow.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  20. ↑ "Time Zone & Clock Changes in Vilnius, Lithuania". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  21. ↑ "Time Changes in Poland 2017". www.vercalendario.info. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  22. ↑ Bartky, Ian R. (2007). One Time Fits All: The Campaigns for Global Uniformity. Stanford University Press. pp. 130, 134. ISBN   978-0804756426 . Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  23. ↑ "Summer Time all the time" . Birmingham Daily Post. England. 13 February 1968. Retrieved 16 July 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ↑ "Clocks to be turned back" . Birmingham Daily Post. England. 2 October 1971. Retrieved 16 July 2018– via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ↑ "Daylight Saving Time Changes 2005 in Tunis, Tunisia". timeanddate.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  26. ↑ Purdy, Chase. "Spain spent the last 76 years in the wrong time zone—and it's not healthy for workers". Quartz. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  27. 1 2 "Greece Time Zone". www.timetemperature.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  28. 1 2 "Europe Time Zones Map With Zone - madriver.me". madriver.me. Archived from the original on 2018-07-20. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
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