Consumers will no longer be obliged to buy a new charger together with their purchase of an electronic device if their old charger is compatible. Instead, buyers will be able to choose whether to purchase a new device with or without a charging device. This has been made possible thanks to the efforts of S&D vice-president Alex Agius Saliba who is the European Parliament’s negotiator on the matter with the European Commission and the Member States in the Council of the EU. The new rules will mean that consumers will now be able to use a single charger for all their portable electronics, which is an important step to increase convenience and reduce waste.

MEP Alex Agius Saliba, S&D Group vice-president and EP negotiator on the matter of a common charger, said:

“By autumn 2024, the USB Type-C will become the common charging port for all mobile phones, tablets and cameras. As for laptops, the date is set for the end of 2025. This is one of the greatest achievements of our group, having a direct impact on all citizens wherever they live in the EU. This is good for your pocket, but also undoubtedly good for the environment. The agreement reached today is amending the existing Radio Equipment Directive. My work on it as the European Parliament’s chief negotiator and the outcome of the negotiations today reflect the deepest convictions of the entire S&D Group - products should be sustainable, to reduce electronic waste and make consumers’ rights easier.

“The European Commission’s proposal was a solid base to start building on. Moreover, the S&Ds made it possible to extend the scope of devices covered by the new rules for a common charger. The result of the deal we reached today will now include mobile phones and similar devices such as tablets; digital cameras; headphones and headsets; handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers that are recharged via a wired cable to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of the device brand, so that the same charger can be used for all those different devices. We added to the list laptops, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, computer mice, and portable navigation devices.