Big win over Google steels EU enforcer and marginalizes key economic test
By Lewis Crofts ( July 2, 2026, 14:21 GMT | Comment) -- Google’s eight-year battle against an EU fine of more than €4 billion ended on Thursday with a court defeat that the European Commission will celebrate for proving that its once-feared antitrust tools are still effective. Limits that the ruling places on the applicability of the much-disputed “as efficient competitor” economic test are a particular victory, promising a longer-term advantage for investigators beyond the political win.Google’s long-running fight against the largest EU fine imposed to date ended on Thursday with a court defeat that will have champagne corks popping at the European Commission for proving that the enforcer's once-feared antitrust tools can still score significant victories....
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