Welcome to Tax Conference Veroareena on 13 February 2026 in Helsinki!

The progressive think tank Kalevi Sorsa Foundation organizes Tax Conference Veroareena on Friday 13 February 2025, 9.30–16.30 at Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Kino Regina (Töölönlahdenkatu 4, Helsinki). This year’s event focuses on solutions to raise more revenue to strengthen public finances. Coffee will be served before the event at 9.00.

Veroareena is an annual tax policy conference for economic policy and tax specialists, policy-makers, researchers and others involved in tax policy. You may already register through this form until 10 February. The event will also be streamed online. Welcome!

The event presents topical research as well as discussion and debates on tax policy. The fourth Veroareena will focus on solutions to raise more tax revenue to strengthen public finances. In addition, the event will address latest international trends in tax policy. The afternoon debates will also introduce politicians. The programme is partially in English and partially in Finnish. Journalist Jari Hanska will moderate the event.

Tax Conference Veroareena Programme 13.2.2026

9.00 Coffee (served outside the conference room)

9.30 Opening 

9.35 Opening speech (in Finnish): How Ministry of Finance prepares for the next government term? Director General Terhi Järvikare, Tax Department, Ministry of Finance. 

Part 1: How to raise more tax revenue? Examples from Nordic countries and the EU (in English)

10.00 Swedish proposals for tax reforms to raise revenues. Chief economist Elinor Odeberg, Arena Idé.

10.30 Capital and wealth taxation in Norway – lessons and challenges for progressive tax systems. Outreach director Hector Ulloa, Skatteforsk – Norwegian Centre for Tax Research.

11.00 Commentary remarks and Q&A. Commentary remarks by assistant professor Terhi Ravaska (University of Tampere, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research FIT) senior fellow Timo Viherkenttä from Aalto University.

12.00 Lunch (at own expense)

13.00 A European agenda to tax the super-rich: A solution to raise revenues and tackle inequality in the European Union. Tax policy advisor Julien Desiderio, Oxfam.

Part 2: Debates on taxation and raising revenues (in Finnish)

13.40 Should income taxation of high earning individuals be increased? Perspectives from researchers

The session will begin with presentations by doctoral candidate Reetta Varjonen–Ollus from University of Helsinki and economic policy specialist Jussi Systä from Kalevi Sorsa Foundation. Q&A will follow.

14.30 Coffee

15.00–16.25 Tax debates and Q&A (in Finnish)

Debate 1. How to raise tax revenues and what is the purpose of taxation in the first place?

• Timo Ahopelto, founding partner from Lifeline Ventures
• Patrizio Lainá, chief economist from SAK (Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions)

Debate 2. Is it possible to find a tax policy compromise between the left and the right?

• Susanne Päivärinta, MP (NCP)
• Nasima Razmyar, MP and vice chair (SDP)

The second debate is organized together with Toivo Think Tank. The discussion will be lead by Toivo’s director Raine Tiessalo ja director Lauri Finér from Kalevi Sorsa Foundation.

16.25–16.30 Concluding remarks

Additional information from Kalevi Sorsa Foundation’s director Lauri Finér (lauri.finer@sorsafoundation.fi). Information on the previous Veroareena as well as video of the presentations are available here.

The Employee Foundation (Palkansaajasäätiö) and Kuluttajaosuustoiminnan säätiö foundation (KOTS) have contributed to the funding of the conference.