Central European Time (CET) is a standard time observed in Central European countries. It refers to the time zone that is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1) during standard time and two hours ahead during daylight saving time (UTC+2). It is commonly used by several countries in Central Europe, including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and others.
CET is characterized by its geographical location and the time offset it provides for locations within its boundary. Situated roughly between 7.5°E and 22.5°E longitude, it spans a significant portion of Central Europe, encompassing several countries and regions.
The implementation of CET ensures that the clocks in the relevant countries are synchronized and aligned with a consistent time standard, facilitating time coordination, international transportation, commerce, communication, and other activities across the region. The time difference between CET and other time zones, such as Eastern European Time (EET) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), allows for efficient scheduling and coordination between countries.
CET functions as a regional time zone, providing a common time reference for the countries and regions within Central Europe, promoting synchronization and standardization. Its adoption by multiple countries facilitates smooth international interactions and coordination, exemplifying the importance of timekeeping systems in global affairs.
