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It's not weird, Ireland is part of the single market, that allows Apple to operate in the single market area from Ireland but the counter part is that there are a set of rules to avoid a race to the bottom in term of taxation. That's what this is about.

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> there are a set of rules to avoid a race to the bottom in term of taxation

No there aren't, or at least there weren't prior to the 15% that was recently agreed. Taxation generally is not an EU competence.

> Taxation generally is not an EU competence.

With the sole exception of VAT and customs duties.

Corporation tax is a matter of internal revenue and none of EUs business at all. Well, now it apparently is.

But fining Apple and Google is!

How much taxes will be paid in the EU when the giants leave? Ireland is making a judgement here, one where they understand that they have more to gain this way. That is: unless you are trying to make the claim that they have been bribed by Apple.

I don't think many megacorps are going to willingly abandon a fifth of the world's GDP and an even larger portion of the world's disposable income. They aren't going to leave that much money on the table.

Of course not. They would move countries to the currently best option.

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