Ireland allowed Apple a loophole where they were incorporated there, but non-resident, and therefore no tax. It was a sweetheart deal and Ireland got jobs and investment. The EU said no, wants the back tax to be paid.

The rule applied to every company. Its not even hard. Its as simple as it can get.

Hows that state aid ?

Retroactive taxes and tax regulation? It's too bad the EU officials did not think about that loophole before it was abused.

They did think about it. The law says "No state aid for companies", and the ruling says Ireland gave state aid.

Then Ireland should be fined.

Not too bad, you just go after the abusers. Why not?

> “Apple must stop denying the tax practices highlighted by the European Commission’s investigation, withdraw its appeal to the European Court of Justice and pay its fine of 13 billion euros as quickly as possible,” said Aurélie Trouvé, spokesman for Attac, according to the release.

A blurb from article. It looks like the government already went after Apple.

They sound misinformed. The 13 billion euros is not a fine, it's back taxes that the EU says Apple should have paid to Ireland.

Yes, this is relevant; Apple is not being punished¹, they're just being told to fulfill their obligations.

¹I'm not saying they should or shouldn't be.

Potato, potahto. Apple must pay and Ireland must collect, dropping their insulting appeal. Whether it's a fine or backdated taxes is relatively irrelevant at this point.

The protesters may not want to let justice run its course.