EU to legally charge Google in anti-trust case

                             
The EU is expected to formally charge Google Wednesday with abusing its dominant market position in Europe, taking on the US Internet giant in one of its most high-profile anti-trust cases.

Sources close to the case told AFP that EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager will submit the proposal to a European Commission meeting, seeking approval to go ahead after three failed attempts to reach a settlement with Google dating back to 2010.

European Commission spokesman Margaritas Schinas said Vestager would brief the press at midday.

If approved, Vestager would announce a formal “statement of objections” against Google, laying out the EU’s case against the company and seeking a response with a view to forcing changes in the way it conducts its business.

Google accounts for about 90 percent of the EU search market.