Vestager Suffers Setback in EU Crusade Over Unfair Tax Deals (2)

European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager’s crusade against unfair tax breaks suffered a setback as Belgium won a bid to overturn an order to recoup about 800 million euros ($900 million) from 35 companies, including Anheuser-Busch InBev NV.

Regulators should have looked at each company’s tax break on its own merits rather than as a group, the EU General Court said in a surprise ruling in Luxembourg Thursday. Still, judges rejected claims that the EU regulator had overstepped its powers in hunting down tax dodging -- an important consolation as similar probes and appeals continue apace.

Vestager has made the ...