Brussels homes in on Google

Article reports that the European Commission was homing in on a list of concerns about Google’s business practices in December 2011 that could form the basis of an antitrust complaint against the US internet search group.

The narrowing of the investigation to issues red flagged by the Commission marked a turning point in an inquiry that has been running for almost two years.

However, the Commission still had to decide whether to bring a formal complaint against the company or lay out its concerns in detail, said people familiar with the situation.

News that the European case has moved into a more advanced phase came just days before Eric Schmidt, Google’s chairman, was due to meet Joaquín Almunia, the European Competition Commissioner.

ESO: Background information: EU Commission puts the heat on Google http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-commission-puts-the-heat-on-google/

Google: European Public Policy Blog http://googlepolicyeurope.blogspot.com/

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