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Google Inc. (GOOG) has an unwanted anniversary in two days: the European Union opened an antitrust probe on Nov. 30, 2010 into allegations the company discriminates against rivals in search results. Since then its regulatory woes have piled up.

* February 2010 -- Microsoft Corp.s antitrust complaint against Google lands on Joaquin Almunias desk as he takes over the EUs competition brief.

* November 2010 -- The European Commission announces an antitrust probe into allegations that Google has abused a dominant position in online search. The EU says it suspected Google of lowering the ranking of competitors in vertical search results such as price-comparison services.

* December 2010 -- Complaints by German publishers are added to the EUs antitrust case.

* March 2011 -- Microsoft expands its complaint beyond Internet searches to online video and mobile phones.

* May 2012 -- Almunia asks Google to come forward with an antitrust settlement offer.

* July 2012 -- Google submits the outline of its first set of concessions.

* December 2012 -- Almunia says he expects detailed commitments following meeting with Chairman Eric Schmidt.

* February 2013 -- Almunia announces Google submitted a full offer to settle the antitrust probe.

Excerpt from:
Timeline of Googles Regulatory EU Woes as Anniversary Looms

BRUSSELS -- European Union institutions are piling pressure on Google to change the way it operates its business and applies EU rules.

The European parliament on Thursday approved a non-binding resolution that calls for the unbundling of search engines from other services that internet companies offer, a practice that could in theory lead to the break-up of giant internet companies like Google.

The resolution is a largely symbolic protest vote without immediate impact. But it was approved with a large majority -- 384 votes to 174, with 56 abstentions -- showing widespread political backing.

EU Digital Economy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger underscored the resolution was "an important expression of opinion" but he added the EU was far from tearing digital multinationals apart.

"I don't think, at the end of the day, that the breaking up as such is what we can expect," Oettinger said. "Rather we are talking about the consistent and correct implementation of EU legislation to ensure that the interests" of EU businesses and consumers are maintained.

EU antitrust authorities are currently investigating Google to see whether it is abusing its position following allegations it is biased in linking search results to its own services.

Competitors in Europe, where Google has an Internet search market share of about 90 percent, have complained about the way the company gives preference to its own Google-branded services at the top of search result pages, especially when consumers are likely to be searching for something to buy.

The EU Commission made it clear that the resolution will not have an impact on the investigation into Google.

On Wednesday, an EU data protection group advised that "the right to be forgotten" rule -- which requires Google to delete upon request information that unfairly tarnishes an individual's reputation -- should be expanded to the general .com domains.

The purge of search results currently applies to Google's local search pages covering the EU's 28 member nations and four other European countries, encompassing more than 500 million people. Those who switch to the firm's American domain, Google.com, can find unaltered search results.

The rest is here:
Google being pressured by European Union to change its ways

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Outgoing Brussels chief insists the EU would survive without the UK Suggests a British exit would leave the 28-nation bloc only wounded Mocked David Cameron for boasting that he had vetoed a budget rise PM expected to use a speech within days to set outmigrationclampdown

By Matt Chorley, Political Editor for MailOnline

Published: 10:24 EST, 26 November 2014 | Updated: 12:22 EST, 26 November 2014

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The European Union could survive without Britain but not France, outgoing Brussels chief Herman van Rompuy has claimed.

Bowing out as European Council President claimed a UK exit would only 'wound' the EU project, but the departure of France would leave it 'dead'.

And he mocked David Cameron's claim to have vetoed an EU budget rise in 2011.

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European Union would be 'dead' without France but could survive if Britain heads to the exit door, says Van Rompuy