The European Parliament agrees with the introduction of common chargers as MEPs back an amended regulation demanding mobile phone makers to provide a common battery charger fitting all devices.
"The modernised Radio Equipment Directive is an efficient tool to prevent interference between different radio equipment devices," rapporteur Barbara Weiler says. "This serves the interests both of consumers and the environment."
The regulation is still in draft form, and requires approval from the European council of ministers. The European Commission also needs to decide which types of radio equipment it applies to-- as well as mobile phones the term "radio equipment" covers GPS units and wireless door openers, among others.
Following approval EU member states have until 2016 to translate the regulation into national law, while vendors need to switch devices to universal micro USB-based design by 2017.
The approval makes us wonder how Apple sets to work through such regulation. Will it simply shrug off such demands, ship micro USB adapters with its Lightning-based connectors or redesign devices aimed at European markets?