| 1 | A woman hovers a mouse over the Google and European Union logos in Sarajevo, in this April 15, 2015 photo illustration. |
| 2 | BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Google Inc (GOOGL.O) has been given an extra two weeks to respond to European Union charges of abusing its market power in a dozen EU countries and stave off a possible billion-euro fine. |
| 3 | The European Commission has extended the deadline for replying to the charges until Aug. 31, a Google spokesman said on Thursday. |
| 4 | The Internet company was previously given until Aug. 17 to respond to the Commission's charge sheet, or statement of objections. |
| 5 | The Commission, which in April accused Google of distorting web search results to favor its shopping service, confirmed it had accepted the company's request for additional time to reply. |
| 6 | "In line with normal practice, the Commission analyzed the reasons for the request. As a result, it has granted an extension allowing Google to fully exercise its rights of defence," Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso said. |
| 7 | European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager's charges in April escalated a five-year investigation which Google previously tried to settle three times, without success. |