An adviser to Europe’s highest court has recommended upholding the 2.42-billion-euro ($2.7 billion) antitrust fine imposed on Alphabet unit Google by the European Commission in 2017. The fine was for Google’s alleged exploitation of its dominant position in the market to favor its own price comparison shopping service over smaller rivals in Europe.
The Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), Juliane Kokott, expressed that the judges should affirm the fine, echoing the previous findings by the European Commission and the General Court. According to Kokott, Google had utilized its supremacy in general search services to promote its comparison shopping service, thereby granting it an unfair advantage.
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The CJEU judges are expected to deliver their verdict in the coming months, typically aligning with such non-binding recommendations. This suggestion comes after a lower tribunal upheld the European Commission’s decision in 2021.
In response to the recommendation, Google stated it would assess the opinion and await the court’s ruling. However, the tech giant emphasized its ongoing commitment to its remedy measures, asserting they have been effective for several years. A spokesperson reaffirmed Google’s willingness to collaborate with the European Commission constructively.
Meanwhile, EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager is slated to convene with Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and other prominent figures in the tech industry in the United States to discuss competition and digital matters.
Google has contested two other EU rulings concerning its Android mobile operating system and AdSense advertising service.
The case in question is C-48/22 P Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping).
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