Apple was successful. The second highest court in the European Union, the General Court, canceled on Wednesday July 15 the payment by the firm to the apple of more than 13 billion euros in tax arrears to Ireland, ending the quarrel between the American digital giant and European regulators. "The Court annuls the contested decision because the Commission has failed to demonstrate at the required legal level that there was an advantage within the meaning of Article 107 (1) TFEU1", said the judges, with reference competition rules in the EU.

The Commission, which thus suffers a huge setback, has in fact failed to demonstrate "the existence of a selective economic advantage", according to European justice.

Four years ago, the European Commission estimated that Apple had benefited from illegal public aid in Ireland which had allowed the American group to drastically reduce the taxes paid for more than two decades.

In a statement, Apple welcomed the EU court ruling. "This case was not about the amount of taxes we pay, but where we have to pay them. We are proud to be the largest taxpayer in the world because we know the important role that tax payments play. 'taxes in society,' said the group.

Ireland also welcomed this decision. "There has never been any special treatment" for Apple, taxed according to the rules in force in the country, said in a statement the Irish Ministry of Finance.

With AFP and Reuters 

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