After three years of investigation into the way Google sets out its search results, the EU Competition department and its chief Joaquin Almunia seem to be preparing for a settlement. The Competition department has given a favourable assessment of an improved offer by Google on how it will abide by rules on search results. 

Difficult decision

According to The Financial Times, Google's general counsel Kent Walker said: 'This has been a very long and very thorough investigation. Given the feedback the European Commission received on our first proposal, they have insisted on further, significant changes to the way we display search results. While competition online is thriving, we’ve made the difficult decision to agree to their requirements in the interests of reaching a settlement.'