Let's just have one charger says Liverpool MEP. (Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats)

Garston and Halewood Liberal Democrats <info@garstonld.org.uk>

Let's just have one charger says Liverpool MEP.

April 2, 2009 12:00 AM

Chris Davies MEP Fed up with all those wires and plugs around the house from old mobile phones? Help may be on its way from Brussels.

North West MEP Chris Davies is calling for the EU to cut costs and get rid of waste by introducing common standards for phone chargers and electrical appliances.

Now the European Commissioner for Enterprise, Gunther Verheugen, has told manufacturers that they have till the end of the month to reach a voluntary agreement to improve practices, or an EU law will be introduced to force them to do so.

Mobile phones, digital cameras, mp3 players and laptops would all be able to use the same type of charger under the EU plan.

Davies, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesman in the European Parliament, said that having just one type of connection would be of real benefit to millions of people.

He said: "I'm always losing phone chargers and cursing the fact that none of the other ones I have will fit.

"Europe is the world's biggest market for mobile phones. We have the power to knock heads together, put a stop to wasteful competition, and set standards that will benefit people everywhere."