2026 Tax Foundation Europe Conference and Gala

European tax policy is at a crossroads. Internationally, the EU is working to reform the global tax system. Domestically, the European economy is suffering from a first mover (dis)advantage and difficult demographic trends.

How should policymakers balance geoeconomic pressures whilst maintaining European competitiveness? What role should the next MFF play? Does European tax policy need a new direction?

Tax Foundation Europe’s inaugural conference will convene experts to discuss these topics and more.

Featured Speakers

• Silke Bruns, Director for International Taxation, Federal Ministry of Finance, Germany
• Manal Corwin, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration
• Gerassimos Thomas, Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission
• Daniel Waldenström, Professor of Economics, Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN Stockholm)

First Session: Update on International Taxation

After more than a decade of international negotiations on reforming the international tax system, the BEPS project stands at a crossroads. What is the future of Pillars One & Two? How should the EU understand its role, and what is the future of the transatlantic relationship if retaliatory taxes are brought back? How far has the UN progressed? How should policymakers think of cross-border tax policies and the importance of FDI?

Second Session: What is the Direction of EU Tax Policy?

A new round of MFF negotiations are underway. Since the 2020 interinstitutional agreement, the European Commission, Parliament, and Council have discussed new ways to fund the European budget including new own resources linked to EU policies such as CBAM, the EU emission trading system, non-recycled plastic packaging waste, and an EU Digital Levy. While some of these policies were implemented, others tied to international negotiations look less likely to deliver. How should the next MFF be funded? Beyond the budget, how should policymakers think about the overall direction of tax policy at the EU and national level?

Lunch Session: Tax Fairness or Fiscal Fairness?

Tax Fairness has been at the heart of EU tax policy for more than a decade. But what is tax fairness? How should policymakers measure the impact of EU policies on fairness? Is fiscal fairness a better framing? Drawing on new research, this discussion  will explore fairness definitions and provide guidance for the future of EU tax policy.

Third Session: Tax Competitiveness: Domestic and Geopolitical Considerations

Since BEPS 1.0, policymakers have increasingly shied away from positively discussing tax competition. However, as Pillar Two has made clear, jurisdictions will continue to use tax policy to compete for investment and highly mobile workers. The question is how jurisdictions should compete both within the EU and internationally. As geoeconomics continues to play a more active role, how should policymakers drive European competitiveness within the evolving boundaries of tax competition?

Fourth Session: Tax & Customs

The international economic order is rapidly changing. Trade policy, and in particular tariff policy, are at the heart of this global shift. While the latest tariff announcements make headlines, few discuss the practical implications of these decisions. This panel will discuss how uncertainty and ever-changing trade policy impacts the private sector and how tax and trade functions require agile coordination.

Please check back soon for more details.

Featured Speakers

• Helen Pahapill, Tax Policy Adviser at the Estonian Ministry of Finance
• Krister Andersson, Vice President, Employers Group, European Economic and Social Committee