European judges have inflicted a huge setback on the Commission, which had ordered Apple to reimburse Ireland 13 billion euros in tax benefits deemed undue by Brussels. "We welcome the judgment of the European Court," reacted the Irish finance minister. 

European judges overturned the decision of the European Commission on Wednesday which summoned Apple in the summer of 2016 to reimburse Ireland 13 billion euros in tax benefits deemed undue by Brussels. The Commission, which thus suffers a huge setback, has failed to demonstrate "the existence of a selective economic advantage", according to European justice.

"There has never been any special treatment", says Ireland

"We welcome the judgment of the European Court," said the Irish finance ministry in a statement, saying that "there has never been any special treatment" for Apple, taxed according to the rules in force in the country.