The EU is going head to head with Apple and Ireland once again in a high-stakes courtroom battle which could have a lasting impact on how multinational firms are regulated in the bloc. EU competition regulators appealed to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg today to override a lower tribunal decision and make Apple pay back Ireland €14.3bn in taxes plus interest. The case is the most high-profile of EU watchdog chief Margrethe Vestager’s campaign against so-called ‘sweetheart’ deals that offer multinationals favourable tax terms in EU states.