REACHING OUT: Google chairman Eric Schmidt has submitted a proposal to European regulators in Brussels aimed at avoiding a showdown on the some of the Internet search leader’s business practices.

THE BACKDROP: European officials warned that the company needed to quickly propose changes to several practices — notably including the way it promotes its own offerings in search results — or face possible fines.

THE RESPONSE: Google says it has made a proposal to address all the areas, but details weren’t public. European officials aren’t saying anything either, beyond confirming receipt of the letter.