Divided by its attitude towards the technology colossus on the imposition of the US company’s practices in the field of search engines.
According to European media, while Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera was preparing to announce a fine to Google for her practices, there was intervention by EU Commissioner Maros Sefsovic against the report of the company.
Sefcovic frozen the fine under Trump threats
According to Politico at the end of last week, Google was informed that he would make a decision on Monday on EU’s four -year survey of Adtech. The case is particularly sensitive as it affects the core of the company’s business model in the placement of online ads.
However, the announcement of the decision was eventually postponed by Sefcovic’s intervention, despite the will of Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera.
As Politico notes, the decision not to impose sanctions on Google comes amid growing fears in Europe that Trump will put more pressure on Europe after a unilateral trade agreement in July. It is now threatening to “impose significant additional tariffs” and stop selling technology and chips in countries with digital rules that it considers to discriminate against US companies.
Rare intervention
The European Commission’s decisions on antitrust legislation are responsible for the Competition Commissioner Ribera, but must be signed by the entire College of Commissioners to be officially adopted. It is unusual for a commissioner who is not responsible for this portfolio to hinder a process that falls under it, especially someone who is typically lower in the hierarchy of the European Commission, such as Sefcovic.
The committee’s preliminary view, described in detail in a indictment that was sent to Google two years ago, is that the company violated EU antitrust rules, distorting competition in the advertising technology industry. The momentum around a possible EU fine has increased since the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has called for the “break” of the search engine giant earlier this year.
‘In progress’ finally the investigation
The committee refused to give details when asked about the decision. “The investigation is ongoing,” a committee spokesman said during a daily EU press conference on Tuesday, adding: “The investigation will be completed as soon as the decision is made.”
Ribera reiterated this comment on the sidelines of an event in the European Parliament and said that relations with her doj counterparts remain “good”.
