Commission proposes a common charging-port standard

Universal charger or common charger refers to various projects to standardize the connectors of power supplies, particularly for battery-powered devices.

The September 2021 USB-C legislative proposal

On 23 September 2021, the European Commission proposed changes to the Radio Equipment Directive to standardize charging ports on portable electronic equipment sold in the European Union. The proposal covered mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers and handheld videogame consoles that charge using a cable. The Commission selected USB-C as the common physical connector and sought more consistent charging performance across brands. It also proposed separating the sale of chargers from electronic devices, so buyers who already owned suitable chargers would not have to purchase another accessory.

The proposal followed a voluntary industry agreement made in 2009. According to the Commission, that earlier process reduced the number of major mobile-phone charger varieties from approximately 30 to three, but still left incompatibility between manufacturers. Apple objected publicly on 23 September 2021, warning that a compulsory connector could restrict innovation. The Commission's vice-president Margrethe Vestager defended legislation after years of voluntary discussions. The manufacturer response illustrated the conflict between cross-brand convenience and companies' proprietary designs. The measure would influence digital platform power and buyers' ability to reuse accessories from different product ecosystems.

At the September 2021 proposal stage, USB-C was not yet a binding universal standard across the Union. The draft still required parliamentary and Council negotiation, detailed legislation and a transition period. On 4 October 2022, the European Parliament endorsed the negotiated measure, moving the plan toward binding law. By 28 December 2024, the first substantive product obligations were operating, with separate rules for laptops due later. The sequence matters for supply-chain resilience: a common connector affects product designs, accessories, importers and electronics retailers, but businesses needed several years to adjust. Commission estimates of potential waste reduction and consumer savings were prospective benefits of standardization, not verified outcomes at the announcement date.