The Parliament calls on the EC to come up with a proposal by July 2020 at the latest.
Background: In the last ten years, the EU has made repeated attempts to get device manufacturers to agree on a common charger. In 2009, Nokia, Samsung and Apple signed a Memorandum of Understanding in which they committed to provide chargers compatible on the basis of the micro-USB connector. However, this did not stop Apple from adopting its own type of connector, on the proviso that the company offered an adaptor. In 2014, the EU passed the Radio Equipment Directive which gave the EC the power to set technical standards directly through a delegated act, rather than having to pass a new law. Nonetheless, the EC did not rule in the years that followed, and left the matter to self-regulation.
Parliament urges the EC to take action: on 30 January 2020, the EU Parliament approved a resolution with large majority (582 votes to 40) calling for the mandatory introduction of common chargers for all mobile devices. Parliament now requires the EC to adopt the delegated act foreseen in the 2014 Radio Equipment Directive by July 2020 or, if necessary, to table a legislative measure by the same date. The resolution asks the EC to ensure that the legislative framework on a common charger is scrutinised regularly “without hampering innovation”. Measures should be taken to: ensure the interoperability of different wireless chargers; increase the volume of cables and chargers collected and recycled in EU member states; and ensure that consumers are no longer obliged to buy new chargers with each new device. MEPs say that “any measure aiming at decoupling should avoid potentially higher prices for consumers”.
The new Commission is likely to take action: It is unclear whether the EC will take the Parliament’s instruction literally, and adopt a delegated act by the end of July 2020, however, the EC’s work programme for 2020, which was unveiled on 29 January 2020, foresees a legislative proposal on a common charger by Q3 2020. This is in line with one of the overarching objectives the new EC is pursuing, which relates to fostering sustainability and green tech. It remains to be seen whether industry will manage once again to retain a self-regulatory approach.
