S&D Euro MPs today welcomed the Commission’s decision to sanction Google with a fine of € 2.45 billion for breaching EU anti-trust rules.
 
Europe’s competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager has considered that Google has abused its position on the European market as a search engine, by giving illegal advantage to its own comparison shopping service.
 
S&D Group President Gianni Pittella stated:

“Once again, Commissioner Vestager has shown that she takes EU competition law very seriously. She has confirmed today that no company is above the law.  The competition rules must be respected not only by European companies but also by multinationals doing business in the EU.
 
“Giants like Apple or Google have brought a lot of innovation. Many of their products have changed the lives of millions of people around the world; but with great power comes great responsibility. We understand that a company can become dominant in the market, what is not acceptable is when a company abuses its dominance for unfair advantage. Today’s decision will protect innovation and consumers in order to allow a greater spectrum of services”.