Apple: “This is not a decision against the United States! “Protested Juncker – The World

No, the EU decision to oblige the US group Apple to refund to Ireland over 13 billion was not taken “against the United States.” This was said Sunday 4 September the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. “We apply the rules, we base our decisions on facts and the law” , has he insisted on the sidelines of the G20 Hangzhou, China.

Read also: Brussels imposes Apple a record fine of € 13 billion

The Commission said Tuesday that Apple had benefited from ” tax benefits “ undue granted by Dublin, forcing the US electronics giant to pay the country a record amount of 13 billion euros. Washington had immediately warned the European Union against a “unilateral” approach to tax records, calling for treatment “just (…) for taxpayers, but also for companies trying to do business,” both sides of the Atlantic.

“This is not a decision against the USA! , has protested Sunday M . Junker. This is what I read here and there, and it upsets me because it would have been absurd [for Europe] to venture into this field to tax, if you will, “ address ” the US “, he added, noting that most of the penalties imposed by the Commission concern European companies.

Read also: Apple: Brussels punishment irritates the US

“This is clearly illegal”

According to the Commission, Apple has benefited in Ireland for tax rate on its European profits of only 1% in 2003, which decreased to 0.005% in 2014. “This is clearly illegal (…) because it allowed Apple to pay substantially less tax than other companies “, observed Mr Juncker.

the head of the American giant, Tim Cook, strongly contested the Commission’s conclusions, described as “political nonsense” , pointing to the strong commitment of the group in the countries where Apple has 5000 employees.

Meanwhile, the government Irish decided on Friday to appeal the decision of Brussels, a choice immediately criticized by the opposition. The Irish are divided on the issue. The country’s economy benefits greatly from low tax rates on companies, one of the lowest in Europe at 12.5%. The multinational companies in Ireland employ over 170,000 people, almost 10% of the workforce. But public pressure has made increasingly strong for those billions are used to relieve the country of its austerity cure. The 13 billion euros represent the equivalent of 5% of Irish GDP

Editorial:. Apple: bravo, Mr. Juncker!