Digital Markets Act in action

Dear Friends,

antitrustitalia is pleased to invite you to its next Competition Lunch Talk, which will take place on Monday 29 April 2024 from 12:15 to 14:00 at the auditorium of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Competition (DG COMP) in Brussels, Place Madou 1, 1210 Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (Metro Madou).

Thomas Kramler and Michael König from DG COMP will give a presentation on “Digital Markets Act in action – The Commission’s first enforcement steps towards gatekeepers”.

On 25 March 2024, the Commission took its first set of steps in its enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It opened non-compliance investigations into the measures put in place by Alphabet, Apple and Meta to implement some of the obligations laid down in the DMA. It also launched investigatory steps towards some gatekeepers and ordered them to retain documents in order to monitor their compliance with the DMA obligations. Against this background, Thomas and Michael will take stock of the first phase of enforcement of the DMA by explaining the background of the Commission’s investigations for possible non-compliance with the DMA obligations. They will also discuss the enforcement of the DMA in general and what distinguishes it from the enforcement of the antitrust rules.

Thomas Kramler is Head of Unit in DG COMP leading one of the units responsible for the implementation of the DMA and antitrust rules in relation to digital platforms. Before that, he was Head of the Digital Single Market Task Force responsible for the e-commerce sector inquiry and Deputy Head of the Unit responsible for antitrust cases in the information industries, internet and consumer electronics sectors. Prior to joining the Commission, Thomas worked as agent representing the Austrian government before the EU Courts in Luxemburg.

Michael König is Head of Unit in DG COMP leading one of the units responsible for the implementation of the DMA and antitrust rules in relation to digital platforms. Previously, Michael was advisor for platform regulation in DG CNECT and front line negotiator for the DMA in the legislative process. He also served several years as Deputy Head of Unit in the Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW) where he was primarily responsible for B2B relations regarding online platforms and negotiated the Regulation on fairness in platform-to-business relations (P2B Regulation). Before that, he held several positions within DG COMP. Prior to joining the Commission, Michael worked in the German Competition Authority and an international law firm.

Doors open at 12:15. Lunch will be provided at 12:30, the presentation will begin at 13:00 and will close at 14:00. We recommend arriving by 12:15 to allow sufficient time for registration and for passing through security upon entering the Madou building.

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The invitation is strictly personal.

The event is free for antitrustitalia members, as all other lunches that we will organize this year. Please notify us of your intention to participate using the link below.

You are not a member yet? Don't worry, you're still in time! Contact us at antitrustitalia@gmail.com or register here.

If you are not a member and you prefer to only register to this single event (not to the annual membership), click on the link below to secure your ticket. We kindly ask you to purchase your ticket before 25 April 2024.