Albany, New York (09/23/2014) – Sep 19, 2014: Google Is Revising Offer to Settle EU Probe, Almunia Says After having taking on Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Joaquin Almunia, the EU Competition Commissioner has decided to keep Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) under the lens for anti-trust investigations. Commissioner Joaquin Almunia is leaving the office on October 31, 2014, but at the same time, ensuring that the things with Google are settled down. Bloomberg reported that in light of the aforementioned events, Google has decided to do its homework on the revised offer in order to settle down 4-year old anti-trust investigation.
Statement of Objections from EU to Google
Commissioner Almunia said that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is still liable to receive a complaint (a.k.a. statement of objections) from EU, provided Google is unable to reach any conclusion with the regulators over revised settlement. Any deal shall now be approved by Almunia’s successor, Margrethe Vestager.
Speaking at a media conference in Italy, Commissioner Almunia said that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has been asked to make necessary amendments and improvements, by January 2015 end.
EU and the Anti-Trust Prove of the U.S. Companies
The relation between EU Competition Commissioners and the U.S. companies over anti-trust probe is an older one. Earlier, the predecessors of Commissioner Almunia had levied fines worth billions of Euros over Intel and Microsoft.
The Anti-Trust Probe against Google
Commissioner Almunia started investigating into the case in the year 2010 after receiving allegations that Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) tends to discriminate against those companies (read rivals) who can offer competing and better services in terms of search results.
Nevertheless, the case has become one of the most “high-profile” one and it will be carried forward to Almunia’s successor.
Probes Associated With Tax to Follow U.S. Companies
Almunia also hinted that the European Union was checking into further cases associated with tax deals and that expansion of probes might take place. At present, the EU is looking into the matter of tax breaks provided by Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Ireland for attracting Fiat Finance & Trade SA, Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), respectively.
