The Master's thesis deals with the new concept of digital gatekeepers introduced by Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector (Digital Markets Act - DMA). The introduction briefly describes the social and economic impact of digital platforms and the related adoption of the DMA. It then outlines the EU's digital strategy, in the context of which the Act was adopted, and the relationship between DMA and EU competition law. The specific characteristics of digital markets are then presented, together with some of the controversial practices of the tech giants that have led to the need for new regulation. The central part presents and elaborates on the concept of gatekeeper, the definition and designation under Article 3, and the obligations imposed on gatekeepers by DMA. An analysis of the definition of gatekeeper and the obligations of gatekeepers is presented at the end. The aim of the Master's thesis was to explore and analyse the entirely new concept of gatekeeper introduced into the law by the Digital Markets Act and to assess whether it is an appropriate normative approach in view of the specific characteristics of these markets. The key findings of the Master's thesis are that the ineffectiveness of existing competition law makes some form of regulation necessary and that the introduction of the concept of gatekeeper is sensible. The effectiveness of the obligations imposed on gatekeepers by the DMA cannot yet be assessed, but the flexibility built into the provisions of the regulation speaks in their favour. It is precisely the flexibility of the Act that has been most frequently highlighted in the literature as the feature of the new regulation that is most likely to contribute to its effectiveness in promoting competition and fairness in the complex environment of digital markets.
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