It wasn't "just now". The rule against privileging single companies is a rule of the Treaty of Rome. Which was first signed in 1957. And by Ireland in 1973. Also the recovery of unlawful state aid is nothing new but established practice.

A better way of minimizing your risk factor would be hiring tax lawyers who know the rules of the EU Single Market. Which makes Cook's comments so baffling: Apple should have known that there is a possibility of a crackdown.