The fight between Microsoft and the European Union over how to bring greater competition to the internet browser market erupted afresh late on Thursday as the software company sought to pre-empt stringent anti-trust action being planned by Brussels.

Microsoft issued a unilateral statement saying that its Windows 7 operating system, due to be launched in October, would be made available in Europe without the Internet Explorer browser included. The move was designed to reduce the legal uncertainties around the launch of Windows 7 in Europe and “the risk of large fines”, Microsoft said.