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keyboard_tab Digital Market Act 2022/1925 EN

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whereas further:


definitions:


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Article 1

Subject matter and scope

1.   The purpose of this Regulation is to contribute to the proper functioning of the internal market by laying down harmonised rules ensuring for all businesses, contestable and fair markets in the digital_sector across the Union where gatekeepers are present, to the benefit of business_users and end_users.

2.   This Regulation shall apply to core_platform_services provided or offered by gatekeepers to business_users established in the Union or end_users established or located in the Union, irrespective of the place of establishment or residence of the gatekeepers and irrespective of the law otherwise applicable to the provision of service.

3.   This Regulation shall not apply to markets related to:

(a)

electronic communications networks as defined in Article 2, point (1), of Directive (EU) 2018/1972;

(b)

electronic communications services as defined in Article 2, point (4), of Directive (EU) 2018/1972, other than those related to number-independent_interpersonal_communications_services.

4.   With regard to interpersonal communications services as defined in Article 2, point (5) of Directive (EU) 2018/1972, this Regulation is without prejudice to the powers and responsibilities granted to the national regulatory and other competent authorities by virtue of Article 61 of that Directive.

5.   In order to avoid the fragmentation of the internal market, Member States shall not impose further obligations on gatekeepers by way of laws, regulations or administrative measures for the purpose of ensuring contestable and fair markets. Nothing in this Regulation precludes Member States from imposing obligations on undertakings, including undertakings providing core_platform_services, for matters falling outside the scope of this Regulation, provided that those obligations are compatible with Union law and do not result from the fact that the relevant undertakings have the status of a gatekeeper within the meaning of this Regulation.

6.   This Regulation is without prejudice to the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU. It is also without prejudice to the application of:

(a)

national competition rules prohibiting anti-competitive agreements, decisions by associations of undertakings, concerted practices and abuses of dominant positions;

(b)

national competition rules prohibiting other forms of unilateral conduct insofar as they are applied to undertakings other than gatekeepers or amount to the imposition of further obligations on gatekeepers; and

(c)

Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (23) and national rules concerning merger control.

7.   National authorities shall not take decisions which run counter to a decision adopted by the Commission under this Regulation. The Commission and Member States shall work in close cooperation and coordinate their enforcement actions on the basis of the principles established in Articles 37 and 38.

Article 3

Designation of gatekeepers

1.   An undertaking shall be designated as a gatekeeper if:

(a)

it has a significant impact on the internal market;

(b)

it provides a core_platform_service which is an important gateway for business_users to reach end_users; and

(c)

it enjoys an entrenched and durable position, in its operations, or it is foreseeable that it will enjoy such a position in the near future.

2.   An undertaking shall be presumed to satisfy the respective requirements in paragraph 1:

(a)

as regards paragraph 1, point (a), where it achieves an annual Union turnover equal to or above EUR 7,5 billion in each of the last three financial years, or where its average market capitalisation or its equivalent fair market value amounted to at least EUR 75 billion in the last financial year, and it provides the same core_platform_service in at least three Member States;

(b)

as regards paragraph 1, point (b), where it provides a core_platform_service that in the last financial year has at least 45 million monthly active end_users established or located in the Union and at least 10 000 yearly active business_users established in the Union, identified and calculated in accordance with the methodology and indicators set out in the Annex;

(c)

as regards paragraph 1, point (c), where the thresholds in point (b) of this paragraph were met in each of the last three financial years.

3.   Where an undertaking providing core_platform_services meets all of the thresholds in paragraph 2, it shall notify the Commission thereof without delay and in any event within 2 months after those thresholds are met and provide it with the relevant information identified in paragraph 2. That notification shall include the relevant information identified in paragraph 2 for each of the core_platform_services of the undertaking that meets the thresholds in paragraph 2, point (b). Whenever a further core_platform_service provided by the undertaking that has previously been designated as a gatekeeper meets the thresholds in paragraph 2, points (b) and (c), such undertaking shall notify the Commission thereof within 2 months after those thresholds are satisfied.

Where the undertaking providing the core_platform_service fails to notify the Commission pursuant to the first subparagraph of this paragraph and fails to provide within the deadline set by the Commission in the request for information pursuant to Article 21 all the relevant information that is required for the Commission to designate the undertaking concerned as gatekeeper pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article, the Commission shall still be entitled to designate that undertaking as a gatekeeper, based on information available to the Commission.

Where the undertaking providing core_platform_services complies with the request for information pursuant to the second subparagraph of this paragraph or where the information is provided after the expiration of the deadline referred to in that subparagraph, the Commission shall apply the procedure set out in paragraph 4.

4.   The Commission shall designate as a gatekeeper, without undue delay and at the latest within 45 working days after receiving the complete information referred to in paragraph 3, an undertaking providing core_platform_services that meets all the thresholds in paragraph 2.

5.   The undertaking providing core_platform_services may present, with its notification, sufficiently substantiated arguments to demonstrate that, exceptionally, although it meets all the thresholds in paragraph 2, due to the circumstances in which the relevant core_platform_service operates, it does not satisfy the requirements listed in paragraph 1.

Where the Commission considers that the arguments submitted pursuant to the first subparagraph by the undertaking providing core_platform_services are not sufficiently substantiated because they do not manifestly call into question the presumptions set out in paragraph 2 of this Article, it may reject those arguments within the time limit referred to in paragraph 4, without applying the procedure laid down in Article 17(3).

Where the undertaking providing core_platform_services does present such sufficiently substantiated arguments manifestly calling into question the presumptions in paragraph 2 of this Article, the Commission may, notwithstanding the first subparagraph of this paragraph, within the time limit referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article, open the procedure laid down in Article 17(3).

If the Commission concludes that the undertaking providing core_platform_services was not able to demonstrate that the relevant core_platform_services that it provides do not satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1 of this Article, it shall designate that undertaking as a gatekeeper in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17(3).

6.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 49 to supplement this Regulation by specifying the methodology for determining whether the quantitative thresholds laid down in paragraph 2 of this Article are met, and to regularly adjust that methodology to market and technological developments, where necessary.

7.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 49 to amend this Regulation by updating the methodology and the list of indicators set out in the Annex.

8.   The Commission shall designate as a gatekeeper, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 17, any undertaking providing core_platform_services that meets each of the requirements of paragraph 1 of this Article, but does not satisfy each of the thresholds in paragraph 2 of this Article.

For that purpose, the Commission shall take into account some or all of the following elements, insofar as they are relevant for the undertaking providing core_platform_services under consideration:

(a)

the size, including turnover and market capitalisation, operations and position of that undertaking;

(b)

the number of business_users using the core_platform_service to reach end_users and the number of end_users;

(c)

network effects and data driven advantages, in particular in relation to that undertaking’s access to, and collection of, personal data and non-personal data or analytics capabilities;

(d)

any scale and scope effects from which the undertaking benefits, including with regard to data, and, where relevant, to its activities outside the Union;

(e)

business_user or end_user lock-in, including switching costs and behavioural bias reducing the ability of business_users and end_users to switch or multi-home;

(f)

a conglomerate corporate structure or vertical integration of that undertaking, for instance enabling that undertaking to cross subsidise, to combine data from different sources or to leverage its position; or

(g)

other structural business or service characteristics.

In carrying out its assessment under this paragraph, the Commission shall take into account foreseeable developments in relation to the elements listed in the second subparagraph, including any planned concentrations involving another undertaking providing core_platform_services or providing any other services in the digital_sector or enabling the collection of data.

Where an undertaking providing a core_platform_service that does not satisfy the quantitative thresholds of paragraph 2 fails to comply with the investigative measures ordered by the Commission in a significant manner, and that failure persists after that undertaking has been invited to comply within a reasonable time limit and to submit observations, the Commission may designate that undertaking as a gatekeeper on the basis of the facts available to the Commission.

9.   For each undertaking designated as a gatekeeper pursuant to paragraph 4 or 8, the Commission shall list in the designation decision the relevant core_platform_services that are provided within that undertaking and which individually are an important gateway for business_users to reach end_users as referred to in paragraph 1, point (b).

10.   The gatekeeper shall comply with the obligations laid down in Articles 5, 6 and 7 within 6 months after a core_platform_service has been listed in the designation decision pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Article.

Article 5

Obligations for gatekeepers

1.   The gatekeeper shall comply with all obligations set out in this Article with respect to each of its core_platform_services listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9).

2.   The gatekeeper shall not do any of the following:

(a)

process, for the purpose of providing online advertising services, personal data of end_users using services of third parties that make use of core_platform_services of the gatekeeper;

(b)

combine personal data from the relevant core_platform_service with personal data from any further core_platform_services or from any other services provided by the gatekeeper or with personal data from third-party services;

(c)

cross-use personal data from the relevant core_platform_service in other services provided separately by the gatekeeper, including other core_platform_services, and vice versa; and

(d)

sign in end_users to other services of the gatekeeper in order to combine personal data,

unless the end_user has been presented with the specific choice and has given consent within the meaning of Article 4, point (11), and Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

Where the consent given for the purposes of the first subparagraph has been refused or withdrawn by the end_user, the gatekeeper shall not repeat its request for consent for the same purpose more than once within a period of one year.

This paragraph is without prejudice to the possibility for the gatekeeper to rely on Article 6(1), points (c), (d) and (e) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, where applicable.

3.   The gatekeeper shall not prevent business_users from offering the same products or services to end_users through third-party online_intermediation_services or through their own direct online sales channel at prices or conditions that are different from those offered through the online_intermediation_services of the gatekeeper.

4.   The gatekeeper shall allow business_users, free of charge, to communicate and promote offers, including under different conditions, to end_users acquired via its core_platform_service or through other channels, and to conclude contracts with those end_users, regardless of whether, for that purpose, they use the core_platform_services of the gatekeeper.

5.   The gatekeeper shall allow end_users to access and use, through its core_platform_services, content, subscriptions, features or other items, by using the software_application of a business_user, including where those end_users acquired such items from the relevant business_user without using the core_platform_services of the gatekeeper.

6.   The gatekeeper shall not directly or indirectly prevent or restrict business_users or end_users from raising any issue of non-compliance with the relevant Union or national law by the gatekeeper with any relevant public authority, including national_courts, related to any practice of the gatekeeper. This is without prejudice to the right of business_users and gatekeepers to lay down in their agreements the terms of use of lawful complaints-handling mechanisms.

7.   The gatekeeper shall not require end_users to use, or business_users to use, to offer, or to interoperate with, an identification_service, a web_browser engine or a payment_service, or technical services that support the provision of payment_services, such as payment systems for in-app purchases, of that gatekeeper in the context of services provided by the business_users using that gatekeeper’s core_platform_services.

8.   The gatekeeper shall not require business_users or end_users to subscribe to, or register with, any further core_platform_services listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9) or which meet the thresholds in Article 3(2), point (b), as a condition for being able to use, access, sign up for or registering with any of that gatekeeper’s core_platform_services listed pursuant to that Article.

9.   The gatekeeper shall provide each advertiser to which it supplies online advertising services, or third parties authorised by advertisers, upon the advertiser’s request, with information on a daily basis free of charge, concerning each advertisement placed by the advertiser, regarding:

(a)

the price and fees paid by that advertiser, including any deductions and surcharges, for each of the relevant online advertising services provided by the gatekeeper,

(b)

the remuneration received by the publisher, including any deductions and surcharges, subject to the publisher’s consent; and

(c)

the metrics on which each of the prices, fees and remunerations are calculated.

In the event that a publisher does not consent to the sharing of information regarding the remuneration received, as referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph, the gatekeeper shall provide each advertiser free of charge with information concerning the daily average remuneration received by that publisher, including any deductions and surcharges, for the relevant advertisements.

10.   The gatekeeper shall provide each publisher to which it supplies online advertising services, or third parties authorised by publishers, upon the publisher’s request, with free of charge information on a daily basis, concerning each advertisement displayed on the publisher’s inventory, regarding:

(a)

the remuneration received and the fees paid by that publisher, including any deductions and surcharges, for each of the relevant online advertising services provided by the gatekeeper;

(b)

the price paid by the advertiser, including any deductions and surcharges, subject to the advertiser’s consent; and

(c)

the metrics on which each of the prices and remunerations are calculated.

In the event an advertiser does not consent to the sharing of information, the gatekeeper shall provide each publisher free of charge with information concerning the daily average price paid by that advertiser, including any deductions and surcharges, for the relevant advertisements.

Article 6

Obligations for gatekeepers susceptible of being further specified under Article 8

1.   The Gatekeeper shall comply with all obligations set out in this Article with respect to each of its core_platform_services listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9).

2.   The gatekeeper shall not use, in competition with business_users, any data that is not publicly available that is generated or provided by those business_users in the context of their use of the relevant core_platform_services or of the services provided together with, or in support of, the relevant core_platform_services, including data generated or provided by the customers of those business_users.

For the purposes of the first subparagraph, the data that is not publicly available shall include any aggregated and non-aggregated data generated by business_users that can be inferred from, or collected through, the commercial activities of business_users or their customers, including click, search, view and voice data, on the relevant core_platform_services or on services provided together with, or in support of, the relevant core_platform_services of the gatekeeper.

3.   The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable end_users to easily un-install any software_applications on the operating_system of the gatekeeper, without prejudice to the possibility for that gatekeeper to restrict such un-installation in relation to software_applications that are essential for the functioning of the operating_system or of the device and which cannot technically be offered on a standalone basis by third parties.

The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable end_users to easily change default settings on the operating_system, virtual_assistant and web_browser of the gatekeeper that direct or steer end_users to products or services provided by the gatekeeper. That includes prompting end_users, at the moment of the end_users’ first use of an online_search_engine, virtual_assistant or web_browser of the gatekeeper listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9), to choose, from a list of the main available service providers, the online_search_engine, virtual_assistant or web_browser to which the operating_system of the gatekeeper directs or steers users by default, and the online_search_engine to which the virtual_assistant and the web_browser of the gatekeeper directs or steers users by default.

4.   The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable the installation and effective use of third-party software_applications or software_application_stores using, or interoperating with, its operating_system and allow those software_applications or software_application_stores to be accessed by means other than the relevant core_platform_services of that gatekeeper. The gatekeeper shall, where applicable, not prevent the downloaded third-party software_applications or software_application_stores from prompting end_users to decide whether they want to set that downloaded software_application or software_application store as their default. The gatekeeper shall technically enable end_users who decide to set that downloaded software_application or software_application store as their default to carry out that change easily.

The gatekeeper shall not be prevented from taking, to the extent that they are strictly necessary and proportionate, measures to ensure that third-party software_applications or software_application_stores do not endanger the integrity of the hardware or operating_system provided by the gatekeeper, provided that such measures are duly justified by the gatekeeper.

furthermore, the gatekeeper shall not be prevented from applying, to the extent that they are strictly necessary and proportionate, measures and settings other than default settings, enabling end_users to effectively protect security in relation to third-party software_applications or software_application_stores, provided that such measures and settings other than default settings are duly justified by the gatekeeper.

5.   The gatekeeper shall not treat more favourably, in ranking and related indexing and crawling, services and products offered by the gatekeeper itself than similar services or products of a third party. The gatekeeper shall apply transparent, fair and non-discriminatory conditions to such ranking.

6.   The gatekeeper shall not restrict technically or otherwise the ability of end_users to switch between, and subscribe to, different software_applications and services that are accessed using the core_platform_services of the gatekeeper, including as regards the choice of Internet access services for end_users.

7.   The gatekeeper shall allow providers of services and providers of hardware, free of charge, effective interoperability with, and access for the purposes of interoperability to, the same hardware and software features accessed or controlled via the operating_system or virtual_assistant listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9) as are available to services or hardware provided by the gatekeeper. furthermore, the gatekeeper shall allow business_users and alternative providers of services provided together with, or in support of, core_platform_services, free of charge, effective interoperability with, and access for the purposes of interoperability to, the same operating_system, hardware or software features, regardless of whether those features are part of the operating_system, as are available to, or used by, that gatekeeper when providing such services.

The gatekeeper shall not be prevented from taking strictly necessary and proportionate measures to ensure that interoperability does not compromise the integrity of the operating_system, virtual_assistant, hardware or software features provided by the gatekeeper, provided that such measures are duly justified by the gatekeeper.

8.   The gatekeeper shall provide advertisers and publishers, as well as third parties authorised by advertisers and publishers, upon their request and free of charge, with access to the performance measuring tools of the gatekeeper and the data necessary for advertisers and publishers to carry out their own independent verification of the advertisements inventory, including aggregated and non-aggregated data. Such data shall be provided in a manner that enables advertisers and publishers to run their own verification and measurement tools to assess the performance of the core_platform_services provided for by the gatekeepers.

9.   The gatekeeper shall provide end_users and third parties authorised by an end_user, at their request and free of charge, with effective portability of data provided by the end_user or generated through the activity of the end_user in the context of the use of the relevant core_platform_service, including by providing, free of charge, tools to facilitate the effective exercise of such data portability, and including by the provision of continuous and real-time access to such data.

10.   The gatekeeper shall provide business_users and third parties authorised by a business_user, at their request, free of charge, with effective, high-quality, continuous and real-time access to, and use of, aggregated and non-aggregated data, including personal data, that is provided for or generated in the context of the use of the relevant core_platform_services or services provided together with, or in support of, the relevant core_platform_services by those business_users and the end_users engaging with the products or services provided by those business_users. With regard to personal data, the gatekeeper shall provide for such access to, and use of, personal data only where the data are directly connected with the use effectuated by the end_users in respect of the products or services offered by the relevant business_user through the relevant core_platform_service, and when the end_users opt in to such sharing by giving their consent.

11.   The gatekeeper shall provide to any third-party undertaking providing online_search_engines, at its request, with access on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms to ranking, query, click and view data in relation to free and paid search generated by end_users on its online_search_engines. Any such query, click and view data that constitutes personal data shall be anonymised.

12.   The gatekeeper shall apply fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory general conditions of access for business_users to its software_application_stores, online_search_engines and online_social_networking_services listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9).

For that purpose, the gatekeeper shall publish general conditions of access, including an alternative dispute settlement mechanism.

The Commission shall assess whether the published general conditions of access comply with this paragraph.

13.   The gatekeeper shall not have general conditions for terminating the provision of a core_platform_service that are disproportionate. The gatekeeper shall ensure that the conditions of termination can be exercised without undue difficulty.

Article 8

Compliance with obligations for gatekeepers

1.   The gatekeeper shall ensure and demonstrate compliance with the obligations laid down in Articles 5, 6 and 7 of this Regulation. The measures implemented by the gatekeeper to ensure compliance with those Articles shall be effective in achieving the objectives of this Regulation and of the relevant obligation. The gatekeeper shall ensure that the implementation of those measures complies with applicable law, in particular Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Directive 2002/58/EC, legislation on cyber security, consumer protection, product safety, as well as with the accessibility requirements.

2.   The Commission may, on its own initiative or at the request of a gatekeeper pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article, open proceedings pursuant to Article 20.

The Commission may adopt an implementing act, specifying the measures that the gatekeeper concerned is to implement in order to effectively comply with the obligations laid down in Articles 6 and 7. That implementing act shall be adopted within 6 months from the opening of proceedings pursuant to Article 20 in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 50(2).

When opening proceedings on its own initiative for circumvention pursuant to Article 13, such measures may concern the obligations laid down in Articles 5, 6 and 7.

3.   A gatekeeper may request the Commission to engage in a process to determine whether the measures that that gatekeeper intends to implement or has implemented to ensure compliance with Articles 6 and 7 are effective in achieving the objective of the relevant obligation in the specific circumstances of the gatekeeper. The Commission shall have discretion in deciding whether to engage in such a process, respecting the principles of equal treatment, proportionality and good administration.

In its request, the gatekeeper shall provide a reasoned submission to explain the measures that it intends to implement or has implemented. The gatekeeper shall furthermore provide a non-confidential version of its reasoned submission that may be shared with third parties pursuant to paragraph 6.

4.   Paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article are without prejudice to the powers of the Commission under Articles 29, 30 and 31.

5.   With a view of adopting the decision under paragraph 2, the Commission shall communicate its preliminary findings to the gatekeeper within 3 months from the opening of the proceedings under Article 20. In the preliminary findings, the Commission shall explain the measures that it is considering taking or that it considers the gatekeeper concerned should take in order to effectively address the preliminary findings.

6.   In order to effectively enable interested third parties to provide comments, the Commission shall, when communicating its preliminary findings to the gatekeeper pursuant to paragraph 5 or as soon as possible thereafter, publish a non-confidential summary of the case and the measures that it is considering taking or that it considers the gatekeeper concerned should take. The Commission shall specify a reasonable timeframe within which such comments are to be provided.

7.   In specifying the measures under paragraph 2, the Commission shall ensure that the measures are effective in achieving the objectives of this Regulation and the relevant obligation, and proportionate in the specific circumstances of the gatekeeper and the relevant service.

8.   For the purposes of specifying the obligations under Article 6(11) and (12), the Commission shall also assess whether the intended or implemented measures ensure that there is no remaining imbalance of rights and obligations on business_users and that the measures do not themselves confer an advantage on the gatekeeper which is disproportionate to the service provided by the gatekeeper to business_users.

9.   In respect of proceedings pursuant to paragraph 2, the Commission may, upon request or on its own initiative, decide to reopen them where:

(a)

there has been a material change in any of the facts on which the decision was based; or

(b)

the decision was based on incomplete, incorrect or misleading information; or

(c)

the measures as specified in the decision are not effective.

Article 12

Updating obligations for gatekeepers

1.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 49 to supplement this Regulation with regard to the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6. Those delegated acts shall be based on a market investigation pursuant to Article 19 that has identified the need to keep those obligations up to date in order to address practices that limit the contestability of core_platform_services or that are unfair in the same way as the practices addressed by the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6.

2.   The scope of a delegated act adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be limited to:

(a)

extending an obligation that applies only in relation to certain core_platform_services, to other core_platform_services listed in Article 2, point (2);

(b)

extending an obligation that benefits certain business_users or end_users so that it benefits other business_users or end_users;

(c)

specifying the manner in which the obligations laid down in Articles 5 and 6 are to be performed by gatekeepers in order to ensure effective compliance with those obligations;

(d)

extending an obligation that applies only in relation to certain services provided together with, or in support of, core_platform_services to other services provided together with, or in support of, core_platform_services;

(e)

extending an obligation that applies only in relation to certain types of data to apply in relation to other types of data;

(f)

adding further conditions where an obligation imposes certain conditions on the behaviour of a gatekeeper; or

(g)

applying an obligation that governs the relationship between several core_platform_services of the gatekeeper to the relationship between a core_platform_service and other services of the gatekeeper.

3.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 49 to amend this Regulation with regard to the list of basic functionalities identified in Article 7(2), by adding or removing functionalities of number-independent_interpersonal_communications_services.

Those delegated acts shall be based on a market investigation pursuant to Article 19 that has identified the need to keep those obligations up to date in order to address practices that limit the contestability of core_platform_services or that are unfair in the same way as the practices addressed by the obligations laid down in Article 7.

4.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 49 to supplement this Regulation in respect of the obligations in Article 7 by specifying the manner in which those obligations are to be performed in order to ensure effective compliance with those obligations. Those delegated acts shall be based on a market investigation pursuant to Article 19, which has identified the need to keep those obligations up to date in order to address practices that limit the contestability of core_platform_services or that are unfair in the same way as the practices addressed by the obligations laid down in Article 7.

5.   A practice as referred to in paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 shall be considered to limit the contestability of core_platform_services or to be unfair where:

(a)

that practice is engaged in by gatekeepers and is capable of impeding innovation and limiting choice for business_users and end_users because it:

(i)

affects or risks affecting the contestability of a core_platform_service or other services in the digital_sector on a lasting basis due to the creation or strengthening of barriers to entry for other undertakings or to expand as providers of a core_platform_service or other services in the digital_sector; or

(ii)

prevents other operators from having the same access to a key input as the gatekeeper; or

(b)

there is an imbalance between the rights and obligations of business_users and the gatekeeper obtains an advantage from business_users that is disproportionate to the service provided by that gatekeeper to those business_users.

Article 21

Requests for information

1.   In order to carry out its duties under this Regulation, the Commission may, by simple request or by decision, require from undertakings and associations of undertakings to provide all necessary information. The Commission may also, by simple request or by decision, require access to any data and algorithms of undertakings and information about testing, as well as requesting explanations of them.

2.   When sending a simple request for information to an undertaking or association of undertakings, the Commission shall state the legal basis and purpose of the request, specify what information is required and fix the time limit within which the information is to be provided, as well as the fines provided for in Article 30 applicable for supplying incomplete, incorrect or misleading information or explanations.

3.   Where the Commission requires undertakings and associations of undertakings to supply information by decision, it shall state the legal basis and purpose of the request, specify what information is required and fix the time limit within which the information is to be provided. Where the Commission requires undertakings to provide access to any data, algorithms and information about testing, it shall state the purpose of the request and fix the time -limit within which it is to be provided. It shall also indicate the fines provided for in Article 30 and indicate or impose the periodic penalty payments provided for in Article 31. It shall further indicate the right to have the decision reviewed by the Court of Justice.

4.   The undertakings or associations of undertakings or their representatives shall supply the information requested on behalf of the undertaking or the association of undertakings concerned. Lawyers duly authorised to act may supply the information on behalf of their clients. The latter shall remain fully responsible if the information supplied is incomplete, incorrect or misleading.

5.   At the request of the Commission, the competent authorities of the Member States shall provide the Commission with all necessary information in their possession to carry out the duties assigned to it by this Regulation.

Article 25

Commitments

1.   If, during proceedings under Article 18, the gatekeeper concerned offers commitments for the relevant core_platform_services to ensure compliance with the obligations laid down in Articles 5, 6 and 7 the Commission may adopt an implementing act making those commitments binding on that gatekeeper and declare that there are no further grounds for action. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 50(2).

2.   The Commission may, upon request or on its own initiative, reopen by decision the relevant proceedings, where:

(a)

there has been a material change in any of the facts on which the decision was based;

(b)

the gatekeeper concerned acts contrary to its commitments;

(c)

the decision was based on incomplete, incorrect or misleading information provided by the parties;

(d)

the commitments are not effective.

3.   If the Commission considers that the commitments submitted by the gatekeeper concerned cannot ensure effective compliance with the obligations laid down in Articles 5, 6 and 7, it shall explain the reasons for not making those commitments binding in the decision concluding the relevant proceedings.


whereas









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