During the plenary session (29-30 January 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs vote on common charger for mobile radio equipment, following the debate (13/01). Statements by Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (EPP, PL), David CORMAND (Greens/EFA, FR), Liesje SCHREINEMACHER (RE, NL) and Dita CHARANZOVÁ (RE, CZ).

Brussels

plenary session

vote

CHARANZOVÁ, Dita (Renew, CZ)

ŠEFČOVIČ, Maroš (SK, EC)

THUN UND HOHENSTEIN, Róża (Renew, PL)

CORMAND, David (Greens/EFA, FR)

SCHREINEMACHER, Liesje (Renew, NL)

Common charger for mobile radio equipment: extracts from the vote and from the debate (13/01)

SOUNDBITE (English), Maros SEFCOVIC, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, Consumers should be given a central role in particular if manufacturers are only allowed to sell mobile phones without the charger, which seems to be a promising option from the environmental point of view. These would entail large consumers awareness campaigns and consumers should benefit from any reduction in costs being passed on through lower prices for stand alone devices.

SOUNDBITE (English), R&#243;&#380;a THUN UND HOHENSTEIN (EPP, PL), Many of us have been advocating for more than 10 years for a solution to this very simple problem. The amount of cables and charges produced and thrown away each year is simply unacceptable.

SOUNDBITE (French), David CORMAND (Greens/EFA, FR), For 10 years, the commission has persisted in counting on the goodwill of the industry and we see a lack of results. The lobby is rubbing its hands, but we've had enough. It is not acceptable for European citizens that a measure that would allow us to fight waste, pollution and programmed obsolescence should be blocked in this way. We have had enough.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Liesje SCHREINEMACHER (RE, NL), And it would appear that is a bit of polite encouragement. It is not proven to be enough. This is why we have to move from way the voluntary approach from manufacturers to adopt legislation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dita CHARANZOV&#193; (RE, CZ), Vice-President of the EP, Next vote on the common charger for mobile radio equipment. Recycle A by show of hands, who is in favour? Against? Abstentions? Adopted.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dita CHARANZOV&#193; (RE, CZ), Vice-President of the EP, Resolution as a whole, by roll call vote. The vote is open. The vote is closed. And it has been adopted (659 MEPs voted, 582 in favour, 40 against, 37 abstentions).