Apple is under pressure to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), as the European Commission initiated two proceedings aimed at ensuring the tech giant adheres to new rules regarding cross-device interoperability and third-party access to its iOS and iPadOS operating systems.

The European Union says it will outline steps to compel Apple to open up its iPhone and iPad operating systems to competing technologies under the bloc’s tough new digital rulebook, which threatens hefty fines for breaches.

The European Union antitrust regulators have launched proceedings on Thursday to ensure that the iPhone maker Apple complies with the DMA rules, which require it to open up the vault of its closed ecosystem to the rivals.

The European Union has handed Apple a six month ultimatum to comply with its latest DMA ruling and EU regulations or face millions in fines.

The first focus of the DMA compliance initiative announced today is iOS. In particular, the EU will scrutinize a set of iOS features that consumers use to link their iPhones with connected devices. Officials will inform Apple how to implement those features in a DMA-compliant manner.

The European Union has opened two "specification proceedings" on Apple under the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA) that will see it instructing the iPhone maker on how to comply with certain interoperability provisions in the market fairness regulation.

EU watchdogs announced under the bloc’s Digital Markets Act that Apple must step into line and make operating systems fully functional with other technologies