Google has until Aug 31 to reply to EU antitrust charges

A woman hovers a mouse over the Google and European Union logos in this April 15, 2015 photo illustration. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

BRUSSELS: Google Inc, the world's most popular Internet search engine, has been given an extra two weeks to counter European Union charges of abusing its market power in a dozen EU countries and stave off a possible billion-euro fine. 

The European Commission has extended the deadline for replying to the charges to Aug 31 from July 17, a Google spokesman said.