When the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into effect last year, Apple was forced to implement many changes to iOS – including letting developers create web browsers with their own engine. A year later, none of the major web browsers have released an EU-specific version. In an exclusive interview with 9to5Mac, Opera Product Manager Jona Bolin detailed why the changes made by Apple are still not enough to increase competition. Opera benefits from DMA, but there’s more to be done The DMA has established a series of requirements for big techs, also referred to as “gatekeepers,” in order to increase competition between their own services and those of third parties. Apart from allowing sideloading on iOS for the first time, Apple also had to make it easier for users to choose their default web browser. More importantly, browsers in the EU can now run under a different web engine, since Apple used to force every third-party app to use Safari’s WebKit (which is still the case in the rest of the world). But how have these changes impacted web browser developers? Jona Bolin, the head of the Opera browser for iOS, believes that there’s still a lot more to be done for third-party web browsers to compete with Apple’s Safari. When it comes to the choice of default browser on iOS, Bolin says that Opera is “quite satisfied with the final results.” In the EU, iOS users are now prompted about which web browser they want to use after setting up a new device. A report last year revealed that this change has increased the number of downloads for third-party web browsers, as more users become familiar with other options available in the App Store. ‘You have to play by their rules’ Even so, Bolin argues that third-party web browsers still have many other limitations on iOS. “You have to play by their rules. […] You comply. But that, in one sense, limits you, right? […] It’s like Apple doesn’t trust you.” Although Apple now allows web browsers to have a custom engine in the EU, Opera claims that “no one is actually doing it” because of how Apple has implemented the DMA changes. For instance, developers can’t automatically migrate their users from the global version of the browser to the EU-specific one. They would also need to work on the two versions separately, which would make this “a big risk and cost.” Using WebKit means that third-party browsers can’t implement features that Apple doesn’t yet support, which is why Bolin believes Apple should allow browsers to have a custom engine in any country, not just the EU. When it comes to web browsers, I think we should be able to provide our own web engine in any country. And if that’s not possible, they should allow us to provide multiple binnaries. So if you’re in Sweden or in Portugal, you can download and choose the browser with a custom engine rather than the system’s engine, right? Opera seems optimistic about the future, as it believes the combination of global regulatory pressure will eventually force Apple to open up its ecosystem for real. Until then, the company will remain focused on bringing other new features to its browser. More from Opera At an event held in Lisbon, Portugal, Opera also highlighted its efforts to further improve the Opera browser for iOS. The iPhone and iPad app was recently updated with Aria, Opera’s AI chatbot, and now comes with a free VPN and content filters. Opera for iOS also supports many of the system’s APIs, such as custom icons and widgets. The company prides itself on how it builds Opera with privacy in mind, especially since it’s based in Norway and is subject to Europe’s strict legislation when it comes to collecting and managing user data. We were also able to see a live demo of Opera’s AI Browser Operator, and it was quite impressive. Opera for iOS is available for free on the App Store. You can find more details about Opera’s products on the company’s website. Gadgets I recommend: Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel