Universal Phone Charger: Interview with Barbara Weiler MEP

Common Charger for all mobile phones: vote in the European Parliament

On 13 March 2014, MEP’s in Strasbourg voted for a directive which will impose a universal charger for mobile phones within three years. The directive will replace the voluntary agreement with mobile phone manufacturers which expired at the end of 2012.

Shortly before the vote, I spoke to rapporteur Barbara Weiler about the benefits of a universal charger, what the vote will mean for consumers and the case of the Apple connector.

Common Charger for Mobile Phones

Photo G. Waghorn

The Universal Mobile Charger

• Did you ever have a problem finding a mobile charger when your phone was flat ?
• None of your work colleagues had a compatible charger ?
• Have you got a drawer full of old chargers that are completely useless ?

If you’ve bought a new mobile since 2011, you’ve probably noticed that you can use the charger with almost any other mobile phone.

The new micro-USB plug was the result of the European Commission persuading fourteen of the leading phone manufacturers to standardize the mobile phone connectors in all 27 European Union Member states. The new plug now means that the telephone can be connected to and charged from any computer or other USB device.