16/07/2020 (Agence Europe) – “The fight against aggressive tax planning is a marathon and not a sprint, and it takes place on very hilly ground”, insisted European Commission Executive Vice-President for Competition Policy Margrethe Vestager on Thursday 16 July, the day after the EU Court of First Instance annulled the Commission's decision ordering Ireland to recover €13 billion in tax benefits granted to Apple (see EUROPE 12528/1). While she also welcomed the adoption of a new tax package (see EUROPE 12528/2) the day before, Mrs Vestager admitted that “there's more work ahead – including to make sure that all businesses, including digital ones, pay their fair share of tax where it is rightfully due”. Finally, returning to the case of Ireland and Apple, the Vice-President said that the Commission would decide on the next steps once the assessment of the Court's judgment had been completed. (DG)