Apple: Europe brandished the threat of a record fine – Point

The sum may amount to several billion euros. The European Commission is expected to announce Tuesday its decision on a possible fine against the US giant Apple Computer, suspected of having benefited from taxation for treatment from Ireland, according to several sources concordant. For several weeks, various media claim that the EU executive, guardian of competition in the EU, about to impose a heavy fine against Apple to have benefited from favorable tax agreements by the Irish government.

a source close to the matter referred to the Agency France-Presse for a decision Tuesday. Another source who declined to be identified either also mentioned that date. Under European rules, which consider the aid illegal States, the US multinational could be obliged to reimburse to Ireland the amounts it has not paid due to the favorable tax treatment offered in the past by Dublin.

Questioned by AFP, a spokesman for the European Commission declined to comment on the information. Same reaction from Apple. In a recent interview to the US newspaper Washington Post , the CEO, Tim Cook, asked about the possibility of a fine imposed by the European Commission, said “hope for a fair decision.” “If it does not, obviously we will appeal,” he said. A spokesman for the US Treasury, interviewed Monday by AFP, declined to comment on a possible decision on Tuesday.

Tax benefits for other multinationals in Europe

last Wednesday, the US Treasury had raised the tone in the dispute that opposes it to the European Commission on the tax treatment of aid to US multinationals also relates Apple, also Starbucks, Fiat-Chrysler and Amazon. In a “White Paper” of 26 pages sent to Brussels, the US Treasury denounced the investigations of the Commission on the tax treatment of state aid and their retroactivity. This report followed a letter sent in February by the Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, where he was indignant that the EU “imposes penalties retroactively on the basis of a new broad interpretation of state aid (…) and appears to target US companies disproportionately. “

on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Commission in Brussels responded by ensuring that EU “had no bias vis-à-vis US companies.” “All companies, whatever their nationality, if they generate profits in a European country, should pay taxes in accordance with national tax laws,” retorted the Commission. On Sunday, Secretary of State for Irish Finance Eoghan Murphy, had told the national broadcaster RTE: “We do not believe we have granted any State aid to Apple and we reaffirm that we will appeal the decision up to against Ireland. “

on 21 October 2015 the European Commission had already struck a blow against the tax advantages granted to multinationals by several European countries, such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands demanding Italian Fiat and Starbucks US they pay back the aid received “illegally”. Both countries have appealed the decision to the EU executive.