Ref. Ares(2018)5123708 - 05/10/2018
Ref. Ares(2019)748406 - 08/02/2019
Brussels, 5 October 2018
TO: Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska
CC: Vice-President Frans Timmermans, Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President Andrus
Ansip, Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner Karmenu Vella
RE: Common charger for mobile radio equipment
Dear Commissioner,
We, the undersigned Members, address you in regard to an issue that is very
important for European citizens. It’s about the need for a common charger for mobile
equipment in the European Union. For many citizens European Union means concrete
solutions that facilitate their lives. It’s not only freedom of movement, common currency and
Erasmus. It is also such symbolic things as travelling without roaming charges or geoblocking.
The Common charger could become one of those symbols but also an example of how
European standards are exported worldwide.
During the last 10 years, Members of the European Parliament have been advocating
for a common charger for European citizens. We have discussed this issue thoroughly. The
benefits of the common changer are clear. And it comes not only to the mere facilitation or
convenience for consumers but also, and very importantly, to the circular economy
considerations. The study commissioned by the Commission a few years ago highlighted the
possible improvements in waste reduction and resource efficiency if the common charger
would become a reality. This could be achieved by reducing the necessity to purchase
different types of chargers and by giving the possibility to reuse already owned ones.
Through those years we have put a lot of hope in voluntary agreements between
different industry players. We also acknowledge the Commission’s efforts in this matter since
2009. Unfortunately, with the latest Memorandum of Understanding, it became clear to us
that this process will not bring concrete results for EU citizens. Regretfully, the Memorandum
of Understanding neither has a scope that extends beyond smartphones, nor solves the
fragmentation in that sector, showing the limitations of voluntary approaches, where vetoes
of strong market players influence the outcome and lead to an unsatisfactory approach also
in terms of environmental policy objectives.
Many of us worked in the previous mandate of the European Parliament on the
DIRECTIVE 2014/53/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to
the making available on the market of radio equipment. The adopted text stated clearly that
“A renewed effort to develop a common charger for particular categories or classes of radio
equipment is necessary, in particular for the benefit of consumers and other end-users;“ and
that “mobile phones that are made available on the market should be compatible with a
common charger.”
As voluntary agreements didn’t bring results, it is high time to act decisively. Based on
this directive’s article 44, the Commission has the power to adopt delegated acts to define
the categories or classes that shall be constructed so they interwork with accessories, in
particular with common chargers. This power is conferred on the Commission until June 2019.
Therefore, we urge you Commissioner, to take a decisive action in the direction of adopting
a delegated act on this matter by the College still before the abovementioned deadline. The
common charger for mobile phones, tablets, e-book readers, smart cameras, wearable
electronics and most of the medium-small electronics can become a reality. European citizens
wait for it.
We can assure you that as Members of the European Parliament we will support policy
decisions which help EU institutions to deliver on this promise.
Yours sincerely,
Róża THUN, EPP
Evelyne GEBHARDT, S&D
Chair of IMCO WG on Digital Single Market
EP Vice President
Andreas SCHWAB, EPP
Nicola DANTI, S&D
IMCO Coordinator
IMCO Coordinator
Peter LIESE, EPP
Julia REDA, Greens/EFA
ENVI Coordinator
IMCO Coordinator
Anna Maria CORAZZA BILDT, EPP
Benedek JÁVOR, Greens/EFA
IMCO Vice-Chair
ENVI Vice-Chair
Pascal ARIMONT, EPP
Lambert van NISTELROOIJ, EPP
REGI Vice-Chair
REGI Coordinator
Marietje SCHAAKE, ALDE
Roberta METSOLA, EPP
INTA Coordinator
LIBE Coordinator
Wim VAN DE CAMP, EPP
Sabine VERHEYEN, EPP
TRAN Coordinator
CULT Coordinator
Michał BONI, EPP
Carlos COELHO, EPP
Lara COMI, EPP
Herbert DORFMANN , EPP
Christophe HANSEN, EPP
Othmar KARAS, EPP
Eva MAYDELL, EPP
Angelika NIEBLER, EPP
Jiří POSPÍŠIL, EPP
Olga SEHNALOVÁ, S&D
Ivan ŠTEFANEC, EPP
Adam SZEJNFELD, EPP
Dariusz ROSATI, EPP
Paul RUBIG, EPP
Marc TARABELLA, S&D
Inese VAIDERE, EPP