The message was clear that the new competition commissioner will try to acquire the tough reputation enjoyed by Mr. Monti.

The competition commissioner is always going to have cases of' is this an illegal state subsidy or isn't it?'

"This is the most damaging series of cartels the commission has ever investigated," said Mario Monti, the union's competition commissioner.

Neelie Kroes, the current competition commissioner, said the companies did not sufficiently address the overlap in their businesses that the commission objected to.

Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman, who is meeting Europe's competition commissioner this week.

Europe's competition commissioner, Neelie Kroes, has put cartel-busting at the top of her priorities.

The former European competition commissioner has vowed to make Italy, the eurozone's third largest economy, an international player again.

Sir Leon Brittan, the competition commissioner, has started inquiries into the Rover deal.

Lately, however, Europe has gotten serious about antitrust, giving the competition commissioner broad powers to block mergers and investigate allegations of anticompetitive behavior.

Neelie Kroes, the competition commissioner, will seek the support of other commissioners for the fine.