1. The European Union is introducing a new fee for apps that allow users to link out to external websites or payment systems. This fee, which is part of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), is aimed at giving the EU more control over the app ecosystem and preventing large platforms from leveraging their dominance to unfairly advantage their own services.

2. The fee is expected to be 5-20% of the revenue generated from those external links, and it will apply to any app that has been designated as a "gatekeeper" under the DMA. This includes tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta, who will be required to allow users to access external services and make payments outside of the app's ecosystem.

3. The article suggests that this new fee could have significant implications for the app economy, as it may discourage developers from allowing external links or payment options within their apps. This could lead to a more fragmented and controlled app ecosystem, with users potentially having a harder time accessing alternative services and payment methods.