The European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee has backed plans to end the biannual clock change from 2021.
It has proposed that the clock change on the last Sunday in March 2021 should be the last one for EU countries that decide to permanently keep their summer time.
Member states that prefer to keep their standard time, also known as 'winter time', could change the clocks for the last time on the last Sunday in October 2021.
A draft report was backed by 23 votes in favour to 11 against.
MEPs also want EU countries to coordinate any changes they make with each other.
The European Commission has also been called on to assess a member state's decision to change its standard time to ensure that the application of summer time in some countries and winter time in others does not disrupt the functioning of the internal market.
If the Commission determines that the changes could significantly and permanently hamper the single market, it could submit a proposal to postpone the process by a maximum of 12 months.
This follows on from a public consultation in 2018, which received 4.6 million responses.
Of these, 84% were in favour of discontinuing the biannual clock changes - while 16% wanted to keep them.
In September 2018, the European Commission tabled a proposal for discontinuing seasonal changes of time.
Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune said: "This is an issue that affects everybody. I have been working with various parties for many years to push forward these changes.
"I welcome this move by the committee and we need to now push forward at member state level with plans.
"At European level Irish people took part in a public consultation and Ireland voted overwhelmingly to stop the clock changes.
"There are many benefits to ending the process of changing the clocks each year such as improved outcomes for road safety and economic benefits.
"In addition brighter evenings in winter would have a positive benefit for public health", she said.
Late last year Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan announced a consultation, asking the Irish public whether they are in favour of abandoning the current system and if they would prefer to stay constantly on 'summer time' or 'winter time'.
Summertime arrangements in the EU require that the clocks are changed twice per year in order to cater for the changing patterns of daylight, and to take advantage of the available daylight in a given period.
