[axel77]

I promote this decision of the EU!

I find it a sad state of our economy we need such laws at first place. The 20th century was beside making money also about a fine handful of idealism. Everbody knew making standards and holding to them will make a larger welthfare, and a better effectifity of the whole economy. Especially the decades after WWII (at least here in europe) everbody was focusing on building it all up again.

Now in the 21th century things have changed, every company tries to make every lock-in trick whenever possible. Batteries are only one example out of so many, is there any lithium-ion battery standard after all?

BTW: As a member of the european union, I still like it. Altough its popular in the population of many participating nations to be against it. But exactly this regulation is something that any nation for itself could hardly do, or it would just marginalise itself. However es EU together its possible. If for example france would make such regulation, most companies would say, okay so no more devices for france. But hardly anybody (except amazons kindle :-) ) would willingly gloss over the whole EU.