As Europe moves deeper into the green transition, one question is becoming impossible to ignore: how can economic and tax policies help build a more sustainable and competitive energy sector?
This is exactly the focus of the International Congress on Economic and Fiscal Instruments to Promote Innovation and Sustainable Business Competitiveness: A Necessary Review of the Energy Sector, taking place on 19 and 20 February 2026 at the Elche Campus of Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, in Alicante.
The event brings together academics, legal scholars and experts from different universities and institutions to discuss one of the most important challenges facing Europe today: how to combine climate goals, economic growth, innovation and fairness. Rather than treating sustainability as an isolated environmental issue, the congress looks at it from a broader perspective, connecting it to taxation, regulation, business strategy and social responsibility.
Over the two days, the programme will explore a wide range of topics. These include green tax reform in Spain, the financing and taxation of energy in Europe, incentives for environmental innovation, sustainability rules for companies, and the challenges created by the new phase of the energy transition. There will also be room for discussion on issues such as carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM), sustainability reporting for businesses, clean mobility taxation, waste management, energy efficiency and the role of AI, digitalisation and sustainable finance in shaping the future.
The congress also has a strong international dimension. Alongside speakers from Spanish universities and institutions, the program includes contributions connected to Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Poland, Argentina and the wider European Union context. This broader outlook is essential, because the energy transition is not just a national issue; it is a global challenge that requires shared ideas, comparison between systems and a serious reflection on what kind of economic model Europe wants to promote in the coming years.
For BEYOND, this event is particularly meaningful because it speaks directly to the values at the heart of the project: raising awareness among younger generations about sustainability, responsibility and the future of Europe.
The core fo the congress it is about understanding how public choices can encourage greener innovation, more responsible business behaviour and a transition that is both effective and fair.
In a moment when sustainability is often discussed in broad and abstract terms, this congress offers something more concrete: a chance to explore the tools, rules and ideas that may actually shape the next stage of Europe’s energy future. For students, researchers and anyone interested in ESG, climate policy, or economic transformation, Elche will be a space worth watching.
You can find the detailed program of the congress down below: