article_snippet.sent: Long-running dispute: Former EU antitrust chief Joaquin Almunia, above, made three unsuccessful attempts to resolve the dispute between Google and Google European rivals .
article_snippet.sent: Google and Commissioner Vestager’s predecessor, Joaquin Almunia, made three attempts to resolve the dispute, but in each case intense pressure by national governments, Internet rivals and privacy advocates scuppered the effort.
article_snippet.sent: a settlement fell apart following a series of interventions by powerful political players, including a letter from the economy ministers of France and Germany calling for greater concessions from Google, and protests from German publishing houses.
article_snippet.sent: In November the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a possible breakup of Google, brushing aside an unusual series of objections from the US Congress that the move risked politicizing an antitrust investigation.
highlights_snippet.sent: 3 previous attempts to settle matter have stalled due to political pressure .
  