The Digital Markets Act (“DMA”), applicable since May 2023, aims to make markets in the digital sector fairer and to promote free competition between digital platforms and between business users.

The DMA lays down a set of obligations and prohibitions to which large online platforms designated as “gatekeepers” are subject in the provision of “core platform services”. These services include search engines, operating systems, social networks, app stores, messaging services, among others.

The Commission has already designated six companies as “gatekeepers”: Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft.

Under this Regulation, the Commission must, by 3 May 2026 – and subsequently every three years – carry out periodic evaluations and present a report on the implementation of the DMA to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.

The purpose of this review is to assess the impact of the Regulation on digital markets, particularly on competition and contestability, as well as on tackling unfair practices by “gatekeepers” towards business users.

The report also seeks to clarify whether there is a need to adapt the list of “core platform services”.

The review aims to assess the effectiveness of the Regulation in removing barriers to entry and expansion for business users, in particular SMEs and innovative start-ups, as well as in ensuring higher-quality services and more competitive prices for end users.

Emerging challenges will also be considered, such as the implementation of AI-based services in digital markets.

All members of the public, businesses and organisations are invited to contribute to the consultation on the review, in particular business users (especially SMEs), end users of digital services provided by “gatekeepers”, and the associations representing them.

The European Commission expects to present this initiative in the second quarter of 2026.

Our team remains at your disposal for further information.