The European Union will require all new smartphones and tablets sold within its borders to have a common charging port by the fall of 2024 — and laptops by 2026 — under a new provisional agreement, pushing technology companies such as Apple to fall in line with other smartphone makers that have widely adopted a universal port in recent years.

The EU’s common charger goal is one step closer after a provisional agreement was reached by European Parliament and Council negotiators. As of autumn 2024, all small and medium-sized portable electronic devices including mobile phones, tablets and headphones sold in the EU will have to ship with a USB-C charging port.