Policy Briefing — EU Digital Markets Act Formally Adopted
EU member states gave final approval to the Digital Markets Act, locking in gatekeeper obligations, interoperability mandates, and enforcement powers for the European Commission.
The Council of the European Union adopted the Digital Markets Act (DMA) on 18 Jul 2022 following European Parliament approval. The regulation imposes do-and-don’t obligations on gatekeeper platforms providing core services, including bans on self-preferencing, requirements to enable business user data portability, interoperability for messaging services, and advance notice for acquisitions.
- 18 Jul 2022 — Council adoption. Member states endorsed the final DMA text, paving the way for publication in the Official Journal.
- 1 Nov 2022 — Regulation enters into force. Gatekeepers have six months to submit compliance plans once designated by the Commission.
- 6 Sep 2023 — Gatekeeper designations. The Commission named six gatekeepers and confirmed a 6 Mar 2024 compliance deadline for their core platform services.
- 25 Mar 2024 — Compliance investigations. Non-compliance probes into Alphabet, Apple, and Meta began alongside requests for interim measures targeting suspected DMA breaches.
The Commission is now reviewing compliance reports and technical roadmaps submitted by designated platforms, signalling deeper oversight of interoperability, self-preferencing, and data access restrictions throughout 2024.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector
- Digital Markets Act: Commission designates six gatekeepers
- Digital Markets Act: Commission opens non-compliance investigations into Alphabet, Apple and Meta
Zeph Tech translates DMA obligations into product, interoperability, and data governance workstreams for platforms preparing compliance playbooks.