Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council, known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), establishes harmonised rules to ensure fair and contestable digital markets across the Union where gatekeepers operate. Gatekeepers are large digital platforms that provide core platform services, such as online search engines, app stores or messaging services, that connect many business users with end users and can significantly influence market access.

The DMA seeks to address the imbalances of bargaining power and the unfair practices that undermine fair competition, innovation and consumer choice in digital markets. It does so by laying down specific obligations (“do’s”) and prohibitions (“don’ts”) for gatekeepers to prevent practices that distort market contestability and fairness. The Regulation complements, without replacing, the application of EU competition law.

By introducing these rules, the EU aims to maintain a level playing field, reduce fragmentation within the internal market, and improve conditions for business users, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, and consumers alike. The Commission is empowered to monitor compliance, conduct market investigations, and, where necessary, impose remedies to restore fairness and contestability in the digital sector.