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The EU has, it has some very strong rules/laws that prevent many forms of state aid (frequently brought up as a reason why countries should leave the EU). These
by avianlyric 6y ago
The EU has, it has some very strong rules/laws that prevent many forms of state aid (frequently brought up as a reason why countries should leave the EU). These rules/laws are given force via international treaties signed when countries join the EU, including Ireland.
The EU are say that Ireland’s laws break these EU treaties, and are thus invalid. There’s probably some valid questions regarding why the EU acted now, and not previously. But ultimately if those treaties has provide no time limit on enforcement, then the EU is free to pursue remediation whenever it wants. Today, tomorrow or two decades time.
- anonymousDan 6y agoWell no, the EU just lost the case. Taxation is not an EU competency. The court case was about whether Ireland gave taxation opportunities to Apple that were unavailable to other companies, which was shown to not be the case.
- avianlyric 6y agoSpecifically the case was whether or not the tax benefits provided can be considered a form of state aid, clearly EU courts don’t think they can. But I suspect that the EU commission will appeal this ruling, and maybe they’ll win the appeal. If the current tax situation is anything to go by, no government anywhere is competent at taxing multi-nationals. The US made loud noises about the EU trying to force Ireland to tax Apple, but only because the US wants the tax revenue instead, but even the US hasn’t figured out how it’ll actually get Apple to pay more tax.