They did it quite easily prior to when certain EU nations decided to give them massive tax breaks (up to and including zero tax) if they located offices and pro

They did it quite easily prior to when certain EU nations decided to give them massive tax breaks (up to and including zero tax) if they located offices and production facilities in their nations, so your last point is moot. Until then, they didn't have offices in the EU because there was no point in sinking that kind of money into countries that would just tax you to death for little in return.