Google, the leader in the search engine market, and the European regulators are apaprently at a "critical moment" as both parties seek to settle a 3 years running antitrust investigation, according to an EU spokesman.
According to a Reuters report, Google is close to a settlement with the EU regulators, after the search giant made improved proposals. Furthermore, opposition from Expedia Inc, and Microsoft, the world's largest software maker due to Windows and Office has hastened two settlement offers by the search giant, and maker of the Android operating system.
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said the regulator is "very close to the end" of its investigation. He claimed that regulators will soon decide whether or not to accept a settlement proposal by Google. However, it is still possible the EU might send a statement of objection, which would further continue the dispute.
If everything works out well, Google could escape an antitrust fine of up to $5 billion.
For years the EU has been placing demands on Google, alleging that the company gives special treatment to its own services in search results. In the first round of proposals, Google said it would enable advertisers to switch services, along with highlighting competing services. However, earlier this month, Almunia said the concession wasn't enough.
After the last two meetings with Google's rivals such as Microsoft and over 100 other companies, the EU regulators now know that they should not consider making deal rather than agreeing to a flawed one.
Google has been quite lucky so far, as the search giant could escape paying a hefty fine. This isn't the first time Google has found itself in this position, however, as it once escaped a fine from U.S. regulators in the past.
