It is understood that USB-C will serve as the common interface in the EU, allowing consumers to use any USB-C charger to charge any brand of device.

This EU requirement will apply to all handheld cell phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, portable speakers, handheld video game consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems.

By 2026, this requirement will also apply to laptops.

The process of harmonizing the USB-C interface has not been simple. In 2009, there were reportedly up to 30 charging ports on the market, which was a mixed bag. At that time, at the urging of the European Commission, 14 cell phone manufacturers, including Apple, adapted this, gradually narrowing down to USB-C, Lightning and Micro-USB.

Micro-USB was phased out for technical reasons, so Apple's Lightning connector became the biggest obstacle to harmonization.

In September 2021, the European Commission formally proposed a motion to make USB-C the common standard for all mobile devices in the European Union, with a transition period of 24 months.

This initiative was fiercely opposed by Apple: " We are concerned that such strict regulation of chargers will only stifle innovation rather than encourage it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world."

On October 4, 2022, the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a bill requiring that charging ports for cell phones and other portable smart electronic devices be harmonized with USB Type-C.

In September of this year, Apple announced that the iPhone 15 phones had all switched to USB-C.