“When I described the European Commission as a ‘premier source of fake news’ in yesterday’s post, I knew from a Bloomberg tweet that the Commission’s €13B ‘state aid’ decision on Apple’s Irish taxes was going to be published before the Holiday Season but didn’t know that today was going to be the day,” Florian Mueller writes for FOSS Patents. “In order to counterbalance Commissioner Vestager’s claims, the Irish government and Apple have just launched pre-emptive strikes.”
“Apple’s General Counsel Bruce Sewell and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri gave Reuters’ Brussels competition expert Foo Yun Chee (a reporter I’ve been in contact with for many years and whom I regard as very thorough and objective) an interview in Cupertino,” Mueller writes. “Apple’s executives pointed out, among many other things, that their Irish operation ‘doesn’t do any engineering, doesn’t generate any intellectual property.'”
“In parallel to the Reuters interview, Apple’s CFO also gave an interview in Cupertino to Die Welt, a well-respected German newspaper that belongs to Europe’s largest newspaper publisher, the Axel Springer group. That interview has only been published in German, so let me translate Mr. Maestri’s strongest statement here: Maestri accuses EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager of pursuing a political agenda. “What the Commission is doing here is a disgrace for European citizens, it should be ashamed.”,” Mueller writes. “Mr. Maestri, an Italian, is a European citizen himself. This statement is similarly tough as Apple CEO Tim Cook’s initial reaction to the decision, calling it ‘total political crap.'”
“In the Die Welt article, Mr. Maestri then argues that Europe’s economy will suffer massive harm at the end of the day, given that many companies must make decision on where to set up research and development,” Mueller writes. “And in light of how the Commission is dealing with Apple, they may prefer such places as Singpore or Hong Kong.”
Read more in the full article – highly recommended – here.
MacDailyNews Take: Mueller’s take on this is exactly right. The whole piece is worth the read.
As we wrote earlier today: Now, to be fair, this is only because poor Margrethe is an idiot politician. Go back to Denmark, you’re in over your head – unless your agenda is to destroy the EU from the inside out, in which case: Carry on, you’re doing a hell of a job!
Anyone who decides to set up a business in a European Union vassal state today is insane.
SEE ALSO:
Ireland accuses EU of exceeding power in Apple tax grab – December 19, 2016
Apple formally appeals EU tax grab this week, says company was a ‘convenient target’ – December 19, 2016
The ‘Brexit-Apple’ connection: What in the world was Margrethe Vestager thinking? – September 12, 2016
EU ministers line up to take tax bites out of Apple – September 12, 2016
Former EU competition commissioner: Vestager claim that Apple owes back taxes an incorrect use of EU law – September 2, 2016
Irish government to fight EU on Apple tax – September 2, 2016
Treasury accuses EU of trying to steal U.S. tax revenues with Apple decision – September 1, 2016
Irish residents opposed to EU’s tax demand of Apple – September 1, 2016
Apple Inc. pushes back against EU tax grab – September 1, 2016
Apple may repatriate billions of dollars next year after new U.S. President takes office – September 1, 2016
U.S. tax code allows for dramatic retaliation against EU overreach in Apple case – September 1, 2016
Apple CEO Tim Cook on EU tax demand: ‘No one did anything wrong here and Ireland is being picked on… It is total political crap’ – September 1, 2016
U.S. Treasury: The European Commission’s retroactive tax demands on Apple are unfair – August 30, 2016
EU demands Apple pay massive $14.5 billion in taxes plus interest – August 30, 2016
U.S. government warns EU: Do not hit Apple with a massive back tax bill – or else – August 25, 2016
I am glad. When all the companies take their jobs from Europe….again. Then the socialists will have to explain how the people’s government, screwed up the people’s economy pursuing, their personal economic class envy agendas.
It’s actually Ireland being “punished” here, but Apple is expected to do the paying. Apple should pay and then sue Ireland for making representations that as an EU member nation they did not have the authority to make.
Ireland does not have the right to waive taxes for monies earned elsewhere in the EU.
I followed Mueller’s writings on Apple patent suits and he has been wrong 95% of the time. Just because he is a self declared Cretin supporter, MDN thinks he has some credibility. I don’t agree with essentially rewriting laws after the fact and think the case against Apple is bogus, but I certainly am not going to give his arguments any credibility. And as far as the EU is concerned, a careful study will show that on a whole it has benefited the involved countries far more than it is has hurt. Certainly individual areas of economies have not benefitted but as whole, it has been a positive thing.
And as far as the EU is concerned, a careful study will show that on a whole it has benefited the involved countries far more than it is has hurt.
OH, Really? You might do yourself a favor and educate yourself jimg.
BREXIT THE MOVIE FULL FILM… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTMxfAkxfQ0
iPonder your entitlement lame ass, was the first into the wagon getting free sandwiches from your messiah Oh Blah Blah. Pathetic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEM4NKXK-iA
Some people you just can’t reach.
Deplorable. Those European bureaucrats are deplorable. They simply won’t do want we want. Whaaah.
Note to King Khan. See above links and educate your lame entitlement ass too.
Tsk, tsk. These nations are merely exercising their political rights. I applaud them. Socialism requires participation of all its constituents. Apple should be proud to contribute to the leftist causes it espouses.
Given Apple’s legal teams track record over the past 33+ years (since winning the appeal on the Franklin case) I don’t have much faith that Apple will win this.
I’m an Apple guy
But I hate when Apple is so **** LGBT PC , but evades tax like some Trumpo,
As an European I say: pay you f**** tax , and 0.01 % tax is not tax and you should now better!
But in the end it’s because Ireland didn’t play by EU rules and gave Apple an illegal tax break.
It’s not a question of crazy socialist Europeans wanting some tax €. Would you like Apple to pay 0.01 % tax in the US?
AVOID, not EVADE.
Educate yourself.
AVOID, not EVADE.
Educate yourself.
Yes, they DO pay their fucking tax. Changing laws to apply retroactively, as the EU wants to do, is ILLEGAL.
Their is no ILLEGAL tax break.
Legality is determined by elected representatives following the constitution of each nation, not you. Welcome to the real world, Paul, the vast majority of people do not think like you.
There are very few “ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES” in the EU King Klown. Educate yourself. BREXIT THE MOVIE FULL FILM… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTMxfAkxfQ0
You poor deluded fool. These are democratic nations of free people exercising their national rights. These are not nations under tyrannical rule. Please, educate your own self. Free people can make their own rules and governments. Stand by.
So the billions of VAT collected on the iPhone is not enough to support the greedy European populations?
Hell no! It costs money to build a socialist dream state. So keep paying and enjoy.
iPonder your entitlement lame ass, was the second after jimg into the wagon getting free sandwiches from your messiah Oh Blah Blah. Pathetic.
King Klown is “THE” problem, NOT, part of the solution.
I think you meant “evade taxes like a Clinton”. Otherwise, you have a point.
What’s really shameful is a leftist complaining about how much he has to pay in taxes. Everyone knows that the common people pay taxes not the elites. STFU, Luca, hypocrite. You and your ilk only espouse leftist policies when you don’t have to finance them.
Why don’t you STFU King Kong. Go and get an education first before blabbing on about who should pay taxes. Just because you are on the left doesn’t mean you should be the ONLY ONES paying tax.
EVERYONE has to be included in the tax code. If Apple doesn’t take the SAME advantage that other firms are taking then they would be uncompetitive and out of business in no time.
Make everyone pay the tax you want them to pay. That requires a change in the laws to make that clear for all.
You prove my point. Leftists claim of fairness only means someone else pays the taxes for liberal programs. Again, leftists are only generous with other people’s money.
Again you prove my point, you need an education.
The level of discourse on this site has reached a new low…and that’s saying something.
Get used to it – trumped we are by stoooooopid.
Apple:”if EU goes low, we go lower!”
Oh yeah Maestri, well it’s nothing compared to what your terrorist government is doing. Let’s see one the EC wants to tax Apple and it’s going through the EU so that justice can be served. On the other is Apple’s country that has been restraining, detaining, denying justice and torturing people for over a decade.
And the EU should be ashamed, sure it should.
No you people, you are so above the law and when it comes to denying justice and freedom for others, it’s mission accomplished.
The courts will figure this out Maestri, cause it won’t be run by your country and you’ll get a chance to defend your fine company in court and you will be vindicated. I know it’s scary for you to actually have to play on a level playing field with others, but that’s what happens when you use superior weaponry to defend a total lack of morality and ethics.