A standardized charger has been discussed in Europe for more than 10 years. In September 2021, the EU Commission presented a draft law that would oblige manufacturers to use the USB-C connector for charging cables. Now the European Parliament has paved the way – for the end of 2024.
Many devices from the end of 2024
The aim is for consumers in the EU to be able to use a uniform charger for their electronic devices, which is why by the end of 2024 all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU must have a USB-C charging port. From spring 2026, this will also apply to laptops.
USB-C connection up to 100 watts mandatory
All manufacturers must charge their new smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, portable video game consoles and speakers, e-book readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earphones and laptops with a power output of up to 100 watts using a cable equipped with a USB-C connector.
Uniform fast-charge
All devices that can be charged quickly will also have the same charging speed in the future, so that devices can be charged at the same speed with any compatible charger. However, the communication from the European Parliament does not state how quickly this should be.
EU Parliament decides on new regulations
< p class="p text-width">This Tuesday, the relevant new regulations were approved by the plenum with 602 votes in favour, 13 in favour, with 8 abstentions. The aim is also that a charger is no longer included with every device, which is why manufacturers have the choice of selling new devices with or without a charger.
More labels should fix it
Special labels are intended to provide information about the charging properties of new devices in order to be able to determine whether an existing charger is compatible with them. Chargers should be reused more often because, according to the EU Parliament, consumers spend up to 250 million euros a year on unnecessary chargers. Disposed and unused chargers also generate around 11,000 tons of electronic waste in the EU every year.
Standard for wireless charging
Wireless charging, which is becoming more and more popular, should also be uniform. Therefore, the Commission must harmonize the interoperability requirements by the end of 2024, which should prevent negative consequences for consumers and the environment. In this way, consumers should not be tied to one manufacturer by a specific technology.
The common charger is finally becoming a reality in Europe. We have been waiting for these regulations for more than ten years and we can finally make the current abundance of chargers a thing of the past. This future-proof law allows for the development of innovative charging solutions in the future, and everyone will benefit from it – from frustrated consumers to our fragile environment. These are difficult times for politics, but we have shown that the EU has not run out of ideas to improve the lives of millions of people in Europe and set an example for other parts of the world.
Rapporteur of the Parliament, Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, Malta)
No obligation to convert already introduced products
Following formal approval by the EU Council, EU member states then have 12 months to transpose the directive into national law and have 12 months after the end of the transposition period to apply it. The new regulations do not apply to products placed on the market before the date of application. So they can still be sold without USB-C after 2024.