EU Parliament Prepares Plan To Split Up Google

A non-binding resolution that would separate Google's search engine operations in Europe from the rest of its business is being prepared by the EU Parliament.

Prompted by growing concerns among European politicians about the internet giant's dominance in the online search market, the plan is designed to curb the firm's power.

A public call for a break-up would the most far-reaching action proposed - and a significant threat to Google's business.

The draft motion does not mention any specific search engine by name, though Google is by far the dominant provider of such services in Europe with an estimated 90% market share.

Google declined to comment.

The motion seen by news agency Reuters "calls on the Commission to consider proposals with the aim of unbundling search engines from other commercial services as one potential long-term solution" to levelling the competitive playing field.

Parliament has no power to initiate legislation and lacks the authority to break up corporations, and while the draft motion is a non-binding resolution, it would step up the pressure on the European Commission to act against Google.

The firm already faces strong criticism in Europe about everything from privacy to tax policies, and has been fighting a European court's ruling that requires it to remove links from search results that individuals find objectionable.

Gary Reback, a US attorney who has filed complaints on behalf of companies against Google over fair search, said: "It's a strong expression of the fact that things are going to change.

"The parliament doesn't bind the commission for sure, but they have to listen."

European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said she would take some time to decide on the next step of the four-year investigation into Google, after her predecessor scrapped a proposed settlement with the company.

Having taken over from Joaquin Almunia on 1 November, she said she would take a representative sample of views from parties involved in the case and check on the latest industry developments before taking any action.