Thu Sep 19 08:26:15 UTC 2024: ## EU Court Ruling Against Apple Sparks Calls for Tax Reform

**Brussels, [Date]** – The recent ruling by the European Court of Justice confirming that Ireland granted €13 billion in illegal state aid to Apple has been hailed as a victory for tax justice by the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament. The group is calling for bold reforms to company tax, arguing that the ruling should be a catalyst for eradicating sweetheart tax deals that benefit multinational corporations at the expense of taxpayers.

“The Apple ruling is a great victory for tax justice,” declared Jonás Fernández, S&D spokesperson on economic and monetary affairs. “The judgement confirms that secretive sweetheart deals for multinationals at the expense of workers and small companies are wrong and unlawful.”

The S&D group is urging the next European Commission to continue its crackdown on state aid abuses, specifically those involving selective tax breaks granted to companies. They also highlighted the importance of the global deal on minimum effective tax for multinationals and the new rules for enhanced cooperation among tax authorities, measures they helped secure in recent years.

“However, exemptions in the global deal and differences in member states’ tax laws may still be exploited for tax avoidance,” added Bruno Gonçalves, S&D spokesperson on taxation. “This is why tax justice remains our priority. We must tackle the root causes of tax evasion and avoidance by multinationals, harmonise further corporate tax rules in the EU and close remaining loopholes.”

The group is specifically calling for the adoption of legislative reforms under the Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation (BEFIT) package, which comprises three directives on taxation. The S&D also advocates for a more balanced tax burden, arguing that the current system unfairly favors capital over salaries and that the wealthiest in society are not paying their fair share.

“The EU and governments need stable revenue to finance quality public services and deliver an ambitious digital and climate transition that leaves no one behind,” Gonçalves concluded.

Read More