FUSP-CEU is a Spanish private, non-profit educational foundation with over 90 years of experience in academic excellence. It comprises 25 educational institutions across Spain, including schools, vocational training centers, and four universities collectively known as CEU Universities.
Among them, Universidad CEU San Pablo (USP), established in 1993, is a specialized university structured around three core areas of knowledge:
· Social Sciences: Faculties of Law, Economics, Humanities, and Communication.
· Architecture and Engineering: Polytechnic School.
· Health and Life Sciences: Faculties of Pharmacy and Medicine, with active collaborations with leading healthcare institutions such as Hospital Viamed Fuensanta, Fundación Hospitalarias Madrid, and Hospital Vithas Madrid Aravaca.
CEU Universities – Key Research Figures (2024–2025):
· Staff & Students: 2,613 teaching and research staff; 23,088 undergraduate; 4,023 postgraduate; 628 doctoral students.
· Research Capacity: 149 competitive research groups; 115 active national/regional projects (€12.6M); 9 active European projects (€1.23M); 94 private-sector research agreements (€2.38M); 35 research chairs.
Among the European projects that have been developed in the last 5 years, the following is worth mentioning: “VTAX”. Project ID: 101024306. Call: H2020-MSCA-IF 2020. Budget: 160 933 €.
Hydropower, Energy storage, Water-based energy systems, Renewable energy, Taxation, Tax incentives, Cost efficiency, Investment incentives.
In the EU, the Affordable Energy Action Plan rises the issue of reducing taxation and production costs in hydropower generation to enhance the competitiveness of European companies. The current context, characterized by high energy prices, makes it particularly relevant to examine how fiscal measures can help lower electricity bills. The electrification objectives also relatest to water and energy efficiency.
This collaborative proposal aims to contribute to the PRIMA´s topical areas:
(i) Topic 2.1.1-2026 (RIA): Leveraging ecosystem functions and improving water allocation to protect and restore non-perennial watercourses in the Mediterranean region.
(ii) Topic 1.4.1-2026 (CSA): Institutionalization and expansion of the Mediterranean Nexus Community of Practice-linking environment, economy, and food sectors-to support intersectoral governance and policy adoption from a legal and financial perspective.
Particularly my proposal will focus on analyzing the role of fiscal instruments and cost-reduction strategies in water-based hydropower and energy storage, aligning with both environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness objectives.
I am a member of the DIGICCTAX research group, lead by Prof. Dr. Marta Villar (full Professor of Financial and Tax law):
https://www.uspceu.com/en/research/research-groups.
My PhD research project deals with critical issues of Water taxation.
For further information please see:
www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-navarro-leach-a71b73190
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pcseue/?viewAsMember=true
