If Microsoft is wondering how its antitrust case is faring in Europe, what happened yesterday in Brussels said it all

Competition experts from 15 European governments were supposed to meet all day to discuss regulators' plans to go after the company for antitrust violations. Instead, the conference wrapped up shortly after noon. No one raised any problems, sources familiar with the case said. And at the end, the countries gave regulators a green light bright enough to be seen across the Atlantic Ocean. The representatives unanimously backed a draft decision against Microsoft by the antitrust arm of the European Union, and in doing so sent a message to Microsoft that could not be clearer. The findings in Europe could ultimately hurt Microsoft in the United States, where it faces numerous private antitrust lawsuits from competitors, experts said. Europe is nearing the end of a five-year investigation into whether Microsoft committed antitrust violations by abusing its Windows monopoly. A draft decision has been circulated for weeks within the European Commission — the antitrust watchdog of the European Union — and could be completed by as early as next week. While details of that decision are not public, reports leaking out suggest regulators have found Microsoft guilty of antitrust violations in several areas. Microsoft spokesman Tom Brookes said after the meeting that the company was still working to reach a settlement with the commission.