Google’s Almunia Deal Said to Be Criticized by EU Officials

European Union Antitrust Commissioner Joaquin Almunia’s deal to resolve a three-year-old dispute with Google Inc. was criticized by two EU officials at a meeting today, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Viviane Reding, the EU’s justice commissioner, and Michel Barnier, who leads financial-services policy, told Almunia at a regular meeting they were unhappy with his handling of last week’s settlement, said the people who declined to be named because the talks were private.