Under glittering chandeliers in a neoclassical ballroom, guests gathered at a private members' club in Brussels for a conference marking 250 years of American independence, organized by Viktor Orbán's favored thinktank, MCC Brussels. Director Frank Furedi opened the event by praising the founding fathers and attacking Europe's "incompetent political class."
Funding uncertainty after Orbán's defeat
MCC Brussels, which declared €6.37 million in annual funding from MCC Budapest in 2024, now faces an urgent cash crunch after Orbán's political ousting in April. New Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who won a landslide victory, announced an investigation into state asset transfers to MCC and said the state will no longer finance such organizations. Furedi acknowledged that from September, MCC Brussels will need alternative funding, warning of a "worst-case scenario" where it shifts to an online-only presence.
Controversial reputation and activities
Critics accuse MCC Brussels of defending Orbán's corrupt rule and lacking transparency. The thinktank supported farmer protests in early 2024, publishing reports claiming EU policy was "destroying" farming. It also accused the European Commission of funneling billions to NGOs, fueling a campaign against civil society funding. Petros Fassoulas of the European Movement International said the report contributed to a climate against NGOs, noting that his organization's EU grant application was rejected in 2025 after years of stable funding.
Suspension from EU Transparency Register
MCC Brussels was suspended from the EU Transparency Register following a complaint from Corporate Europe Observatory, which accused it of failing to disclose funding. The thinktank claims the suspension is "politically motivated." The European Commission declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings. Roland Freudenstein, a longtime Hungary watcher, said MCC Brussels was "basically set up to defend Orbán's corruption" and to serve as an intellectual base for the pan-European alt-right. An MCC spokesperson denied this, condemning corruption by all politicians.
Future uncertain
Despite the glitz of its June event at the Cercle Royal Gaulois, MCC Brussels' future is in doubt. Furedi insists the thinktank will continue in some form, but Freudenstein noted, "If it hadn't been for Orbán's crushing defeat in April, they would be thriving."
