The European Commission (EC) will publish its highly anticipated Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) on 9 December. The EC's legislative package will include an ex ante regime for gatekeeper platforms and market investigations tool for digital markets. The new competition tool ("NCT") would give the authority investigation powers similar to those of the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The EC would be able impose behavioural and also structural remedies. The NCT proposal would go “hand in hand” with the DSA. The Commission's goal is that online marketplaces must not be controlled by gatekeepers, which can foreclose important players or competitors. Rather, online platforms should be "vibrant ecosystems".

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.