BRUSSELS, May 8 - EU regulators have given Alphabet’s Google additional time to try to resolve concerns after an earlier proposal from the company was judged inadequate, the European Commission said on Friday.
The Commission said Google is continuing to engage with officials as it seeks to explain its position and to craft a revised offer that responds to issues identified during the inquiry. At a daily news briefing, Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier summarized the current state of play: "Google is engaging with the Commission to defend itself and in other in order to offer a solution that really addresses the concerns that were raised in the case and in the preliminary findings," he said.
Regnier added that the material put forward so far does not go far enough to resolve the Commission's concerns, noting: "The reality for now is that solution is simply not strong enough. So we’re giving Google a bit more time to keep engaging with the Commission to offer a solution that really addresses the concerns in the interest of European businesses and European citizens," he said.
The Commission, which serves as the EU's competition enforcer, has alleged that Google breached the Digital Markets Act - the bloc's framework intended to curb the influence of major technology firms. The regulator is finalizing its assessment and has indicated that its forthcoming decision could include a fine against Google.
Regnier's comments underline that engagement between Google and the Commission will continue as officials assess whether any revised commitments from the company adequately address the issues set out in the preliminary findings. The Commission's remark frames the extension as a window for further dialogue rather than a resolution of the case.
What happens next
- Google will continue discussions with the Commission to try to produce a stronger proposal.
- The Commission will determine whether any new commitments sufficiently address its concerns under the Digital Markets Act.
- The final decision, once issued, could include enforcement measures up to and including a fine.
This development keeps regulatory pressure on Google while the Commission completes its work on potential remedies and sanctions.