In June, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement to implement a common office policy from autumn 2024. The European Parliament today voted in favor of the directive with a majority of 602 votes in favor. , 13 against and 8 abstentions.
USB-C will be the required standard port on all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU from the end of 2024 onwards and the connector will be mandatory for laptops from spring 2026. The next step is for the European Council to approve the new directive before it is officially in force.
The new law will also cover a wide range of small and medium-sized electronic devices such as headphones, portable speakers, portable video game consoles, e-readers, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems. Devices too small to have a physical USB-C port such as health trackers and sports equipment will be exempt from the new ruling for now.
The common charger will finally become a reality in Europe. We have waited over ten years for these rules, but we can finally leave the current plethora of chargers in the past. This future-proof law will enable the development of innovative charging solutions in the future and will benefit everyone from frustrated consumers to our vulnerable environment. – Alex Agius Saliba (MEP)
The long-term goal of the new law is to help consumers reduce e-waste and make their electronics more sustainable. Wireless and fast charging standards will also be standardized across products sold in the EU in the coming years. The EU Parliament estimates that consumers will save a total of € 250 million per year thanks to the new law, while reducing around 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste.
Press release
Start a new Thread