EU set to announce Google action Published duration 15 April 2015

image copyright PA image caption The Commission may send Google a "statement of objections" after a five-year investigation

The European Union is expected to set out later the action it will take against Google over alleged anti-competitive behaviour.

Its competition commissioner is likely to outline her intentions against the search giant following a five-year EU investigation into the company.

Reports suggest Margrethe Vestager will issue a "statement of objections".

That would escalate a process that could ultimately lead to billions of euros of fines.

But Google told employees on Tuesday that it had a "very strong case" and is expected to defend itself robustly in what could become one of the most contentious antitrust cases since the EU took on Microsoft 10 years ago.

The Commission is responding to complaints that Google, which accounts for more than a 90% of EU-based web searches, favours its own products in search engine results.

The company has yet to respond formally.

'Preferential treatment'

The European Commission has investigated the antitrust allegations - made by Microsoft, Tripadvisor, Streetmap and others - since 2010.

They object to the fact that the firm places reviews from Google+, directions from Google Maps, music and videos from YouTube, and adverts from its Adwords platform ahead of others' links in relevant searches.

"At the core must be the fundamental principle that Google must not abuse its power in general online search to give preferential treatment to its own separate services," Icomp, a lobbying group representing the complainants, said earlier this year.

image copyright Google image caption Google is accused of promoting results from its own services ahead of other links

"If Google takes the view that users are best served by search results that integrate additional services, Google must choose the services that benefit consumers most, even if the services are not its own."

Last year, Google agreed to alter the way it displayed its search results, but the changes it suggested were deemed to be insufficient.

The previous competition commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, asked the company to come up with a new plan.

He left his post without resolving the matter, and was criticised by some politicians for not having taken a firmer stance.

Legal requirement

Ms Vestager, his successor, may take a tougher line by issuing a "statement of objections".

This involves sending a letter that sets out all the objections the commission can base its final decision on, and is a legal requirement, providing Google an opportunity to respond before action is taken.

image copyright Getty Images image caption Margrethe Vestager is the EU's competition commissioner

Google could face huge fines and be ordered to reshape its business in Europe.

In recent years, the Commission has imposed antitrust penalties on other tech giants, ordering Intel to pay 1.1bn euros (£793m; $1.2bn) in 2009 and Microsoft 516m euros in 2013.

'Example'

Thomas Vinje, spokesman for FairSearch Europe, said issuing a statement of objections would "represent a significant step towards ending Google's anti-competitive practices, which have harmed innovation and consumer choice".

"Google's search engine makes it a gatekeeper to different markets in which Google itself also operates," said Paul Henty, a lawyer at Charles Russell Speechlys who has previously worked for the European Commission.

"I think the Commission will want to send an unequivocal message that it has a special responsibility to give its rivals fair and equal access to customers.

"But I can't see that this will be a fast process given the complexity of the subject matter, what's at stake and the likely level of the fine."

In an internal memo to its staff, Google insisted that competition to its search business was "thriving" despite allegations to the contrary.

"People can use Bing, Yahoo, Quora, DuckDuckGo, and a new wave of search assistants like Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana," it said.

"In addition, users increasingly turn to social networks like Facebook and Twitter to find news and suggestions - where to eat or which movies to watch.

"[And] mobile is changing everything - with the explosion of apps taking people directly to the information they want."

image copyright Microsoft image caption Google insists rival services, including Microsoft's Bing, provide users with an alternative despite its dominance of web searches in Europe

International inquiries

The EU's investigation is not the only one Google is facing.

Investigators at India's Competition Commission delivered a report last week after carrying out a three-year probe into claims of unfair business practices.

Their counterparts in Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Taiwan and Canada have also opened investigations.