The European Commission had all rights to investigate state aid in the case of Apple Inc. and its operations in Ireland, according to Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
"I think the Commission has a mandate to look into state aid and also when it the case about the tax policies and application of tax policies," said Dijsselbloem and went on to explain that the investigation was about application of the international rules and standards. He called for patience until the court decides in the case of Apple's tax debt to Ireland.
"International companies have an obligation to pay taxes in a fair way," and making sure they do is a joint obligation of all in the European Union, said Dutch minister. "My message to those companies is: you are fighting the wrong battle, you have to move on, times are changing. You need to pay your tax in a fair way," both in the U.S. and the EU. "So, get ready to do that," Dijsselbloem said on his arrival to an informal meeting of Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs (EcoFin) in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Tax transparency is the key for the proper economic development and outlined that only joint effort of Group 20 and the European Union was the best way to regulate tax, according to the British chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond.
"It is very clear that we can only do this by working together, within Europe and beyond Europe, to make sure that international corporations to pay the right amount of tax in the right place," said Hammond, who was present at the EcoFin council in Bratislava.
Image: EC © European Union, 2016
