BRUSSELS: The European Commission denies that its shock demand that Apple Inc hand €13bil (RM59.17bil) in back taxes to Ireland is, in the pungent phrase of Apple CEO Tim Cook, "total political crap".
But, say senior EU officials involved, the decision certainly has a strong political element, even if Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager says she is confident her case will stand up to Cook's appeal on its legal merits alone.
