(Telecompaper) The European Union threatened to levy fines on Google in its search competition investigation that would be large enough to act as a deterrent against continuing its abusive practices. The EU's competition department told Google it could face a fine based on its AdWords revenue generated from European users, according to a version of the statement of objections released to complainants and seen by Bloomberg. The EU also said it may tell Google to make changes to how its shopping services are displayed. The EU sent Google a statement of objections in April, and the company has ten weeks to respond. A group of the complainants in the case, which includes Microsoft, Expedia and other web publishers, is also reviewing the objections. The European Commission "intends to set the fine at a level which will be sufficient to ensure deterrence," the EU regulator said in the document. The regulator "considers that, based on the facts described in this statement of objections, Google committed the infringement intentionally or, at the very least, negligently."