Montenegro’s Government has approved a draft law introducing the framework of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), bringing national legislation closer to EU rules governing major digital platforms.
The proposed legislation, approved during the Government’s telephone session on 29 June 2026, implements Regulation (EU) 2022/1925, which establishes obligations for large online platforms classified as “gatekeepers” under the EU digital market framework.
Government Approves DMA Implementation Framework
The draft law introduces rules covering major digital services, including online search engines, social networks, app stores, operating systems, web browsers, virtual assistants, online intermediation services, digital advertising platforms and cloud services. The regulation applies to companies whose size and market position allow them to influence access between businesses and consumers. Montenegro is not expected to have domestic companies that meet the EU thresholds for designation as gatekeepers, meaning local companies will mainly be affected as users of international digital platforms.
Local Businesses Increasingly Dependent on Global Platforms
Montenegrin companies operating in tourism, software development, retail, media, advertising, payments and online services increasingly depend on foreign digital platforms for customer access and distribution. A hotel in Budva may rely on international booking platforms for foreign reservations, while a software company in Podgorica may depend on application stores for distribution and payment processing. Retail companies may use search engines and social networks as key channels for attracting customers. In these cases, platform rules can influence business visibility, access to customer data, payment conditions and the ability to provide competing services outside a platform ecosystem.
DMA Introduces Restrictions for Digital Gatekeepers
The Digital Markets Act limits practices that allow major platforms to use their market position against business users. The EU framework addresses issues including self-preferencing, forced bundling of services, restrictions on directing users toward alternative offers, certain combinations of personal data and barriers preventing companies from accessing information generated through their own customers. The enforcement system remains centred on the European Commission, while Montenegro’s legislation is expected to establish national procedures for cooperation, information exchange and regulatory responsibilities.
Businesses Could Gain Greater Access and Transparency
The implementation of DMA rules could provide companies with additional opportunities to challenge certain platform practices. Software developers may gain more flexibility in reaching users or using alternative payment channels. Advertisers could receive improved access to campaign performance information, while other business users may obtain stronger rights regarding customer data and platform decisions.
The legislation, however, does not represent price regulation and does not guarantee lower commissions or fees charged by digital platforms. Platforms may continue modifying their commercial models, technical requirements or security measures, meaning companies will need stronger internal capacity to identify possible violations and collect evidence for potential complaints.
Consultation Process Recorded Limited Industry Participation
The public consultation on the draft legislation was conducted in May 2026, but the published report recorded no substantive participation from stakeholders. The lack of industry feedback is significant for sectors such as tourism distribution, online retail, media, advertising and application development, where implementation details could directly affect daily business operations.
Important practical issues include which institutions will receive business complaints, how commercially sensitive information will be protected, how evidence will be transferred to the European Commission, and what remedies will be available when platform decisions create significant business impacts.
DMA and Digital Services Act Cover Different Areas
Montenegro’s DMA legislation is separate from preparations related to the Digital Services Act (DSA), which focuses on issues such as illegal content, platform accountability and user protection. While both regulatory frameworks affect the relationship between platforms, businesses and users, they address different aspects of the digital economy.
Montenegro Moves Toward EU Digital Market Standards
For investors and companies operating in Montenegro, the proposed DMA legislation represents another step toward aligning the country’s regulatory environment with the EU single market framework. The introduction of European digital market rules is expected to reduce future regulatory differences and increase compliance requirements for domestic companies seeking to operate across European markets. The draft law remains subject to parliamentary approval and the adoption of implementation provisions. Once introduced, the framework will establish additional obligations for digital platforms and businesses participating in Montenegro’s digital economy.
