Kathimerini Greece Newsroom
The European Commission is pushing for a common charging port for mobile phones, tablets and headphones, with the move affecting Apple more than any other company in the industry, according to Reuters.
According to the Commission proposal, the standard port for all "smart" mobile phones (smartphones), tablets, cameras, headphones, portable speakers and portable video game consoles will be USB-C. The chargers will be sold separately from the electronic devices.
The EU executive body will revise the relevant regulation in the near future, so that the external catering is interoperable, which is the last step in the implementation of the proposal.
This is a major victory for consumers and the environment, in line with our 'green' and digital goals.
The Commission noted, according to Reuters, that it does not target Apple, stressing that its proposals were submitted only because the companies failed to agree on a common solution despite years of negotiations. In recent years, the number of mobile phone chargers has dropped to three from 30.
Apple rejected the proposal, noting that innovation is affected, something that will harm consumers in Europe and around the world. She also expressed concern about the 24-month transition period that companies will have to comply with the legislation once it is approved.
"We have given plenty of time to the industry to find its own solutions, now the time is ripe for legislative action on a common charger. "This is a major victory for consumers and the environment, in line with our 'green' and digital goals," said Commission Vice-President Margaret Vestager.
Commissioner Thierry Breton said a shared charging port would make it easier for consumers and reduce waste.
The proposal needs the "green light" from EU countries. and the European Parliament, and then companies will have two years to adapt their devices.
With information from Reuters
