22 September 2021, Lower Saxony, Oldenburg: An Apple Lightning charging plug (l) is seen next to a USB-C charging plug. EU Commission presents proposal for unified mobile phone charging jack. The issue of chargers has preoccupied the EU institutions for more than a decade. In 2009, under pressure from the EU Commission, 14 mobile phone manufacturers - including Apple - agreed on a uniform standard for power sockets in a voluntary commitment. When it comes to the jacks in smartphones and tablet computers, three types remain from what were once several dozen: the now obsolete Micro-USB, the newe

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22 September 2021, Lower Saxony, Oldenburg: An Apple Lightning charging plug (l) is seen next to a USB-C charging plug. EU Commission presents proposal for unified mobile phone charging jack. The issue of chargers has preoccupied the EU institutions for more than a decade. In 2009, under pressure from the EU Commission, 14 mobile phone manufacturers - including Apple - agreed on a uniform standard for power sockets in a voluntary commitment. When it comes to the jacks in smartphones and tablet computers, three types remain from what were once several dozen: the now obsolete Micro-USB, the newer USB-C, and Apple's thinner "Lightning" connectors. Since then, however, consumers have waited in vain for a uniform jack. Photo: Mohssen Assanimoghaddam/dpa