EU wants to scrap Lightning – Majority to ban Apple cable

With an overwhelming majority, members of the European Commission have voted in favor of a proposal that will force Apple to scrap the Lightning connector in favor of USB-C in Europe.

It was in September last year that the EU put forward a proposal amending the Radio Equipment Directive, which means that all electronic equipment must be charged with one and the same technology: USB-C.

The proposal includes mobile phones, portable game consoles, cameras, headphones, portable speakers, tablets and so on.

– Years of working with the industry on a voluntary basis, has already brought the number of mobile chargers down from 30 to 3 standards in the last decade, but it was not a complete solution. The commission is now presenting legislation to establish a common charging solution for all relevant units, it was stated in the press releases that time.

However, the proposal does not include things like smartwatches, activity bracelets and earplugs, which due to their size may have special needs for charging.

That’s how they voted

On Wednesday this week, the commission responsible for the internal market in the EU voted on the proposal, and it ended with 43 votes in favor and 2 votes against, writes Apple Insider.

In a press release The European Commission writes that the decision will reduce electronic waste and make it easier to use different types of electronic devices.

They also want manufacturers to be clearer in labeling new phones and the like with what charging options they have, as well as whether they include a charger or not. This is to make it clearer to consumers who own more devices.

With the launch of The iPhone 12 mobiles Apple chose to remove the power adapter from the box in 2020. Since then, several mobile phone manufacturers have started to do the same.

What does Apple do?

Last year we wrote that an order that the EU wants will mean that everyone who does not use USB-C to charge such equipment must change their practice.

This means both those who still supply equipment with Micro USB charging, but also Apple who doubts the Lightning cable on the iPhone. The company has already switched to USB-C on both Mac and iPad.

Whether we will see USB-C in the company’s mobiles is uncertain.

Apple itself has stated that forcing the industry to move to a common charging port is an obstacle to innovation and will create even more electronic waste as consumers are forced to switch to new cables, according to Apple Insider.

The way forward

The fact that the European Commission has now voted in favor of the proposal does not mean that it will enter into force completely yet.

It must first be adopted by the European Parliament next month, and if that happens, the Commission will have to talk to EU member states about how to implement it.

If this happens, the manufacturers will reportedly have two years to implement the changes.

During that time, Apple may have chosen to do what it has been rumored for years, namely drop charging charge completely – in favor of wireless charging.

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