Google has attacked an EU crackdown on its Android software, claiming that efforts to impede the mobile operating system could harm Google’s ability to compete with Apple and threaten its ability to give Android away for free.

The internet giant rejected charges that it exploits Android’s dominance of the smartphone market to promote its lucrative search engine and app store, arguing that “Android hasn’t hurt competition, it’s expanded it.”

The move is the latest episode in a bitter battle with Brussels that could ultimately see Google fined billions of dollars.

While Google provides the Android software to phone manufacturers for free, those who want to install the popular Google Play app store must also include Google’s search app and its Chrome web browser. In practice, it means that these apps are installed on almost all Android phones in Europe.