EU plans to fine Google high triple-digit million euro sum, Handelsblatt reports

The European Union is planning to fine Alphabet's Google a high triple-digit-million-euro amount as part of an antitrust investigation, according to a report on Monday in Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper, citing commission sources. The decision is nearing completion and is expected to be announced before the summer break. The paper said that it would be the largest penalty the EU has imposed for a breach of its Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The investigation, officially launched in March 2025, relates to concerns that Google favors its own services in search results. The Commission seeks to ensure the world's most popular internet search engine complies with local regulations. According to spokesperson Thomas Regnier, the Commission is more interested in securing compliance rather than imposing penalties. He added, "Even with our negotiations on future solutions, we will not hesitate to move to the next steps as soon as possible."

Google has criticized the impact of the EU's rules on its search product and said it is keen to resolve the case. A company spokesperson said, "The changes we've already made to Search under the DMA represent the biggest downgrade in the product's history, creating a second-rate experience for Europeans to the benefit of a few self-interested complainants." Earlier this month, the European Commission said it had given Google a little more time to address concerns after the company's previous proposal fell short.