EU Decision on Apple Tax Case to Harm Investments, Job Creation in Europe

The European Commission's decision on the Apple tax case will have "a harmful effect" on investments and job creation in Europe, the US technology giant said on Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Earlier in the day, the European Commission found that Ireland had provided the US-based company with up to 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in illegal tax benefits and ordered Apple to pay the sum back to the Irish authorities.

"Beyond the obvious targeting of Apple, the most profound and harmful effect of this ruling will be on investment and job creation in Europe. Using the Commission’s theory, every company in Ireland and across Europe is suddenly at risk of being subjected to taxes under laws that never existed," the company said.

The company added that such a decision was an effort to rewrite Apple's history in Europe and ignore the tax laws of Ireland. It said that the case was launched to show which government collects money rather than to reveal how much Apple pays in taxes.

Earlier on Tuesday, Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan said that he "profoundly" disagreed with the European Commission's findings and would seek to appeal the decision before European courts.