BRUSSELS ― A right-wing think tank linked to former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been suspended from the EU database of lobbyists and pressure groups after it was accused of failing to publish certain financial information, including its sources of funding.
The European Union’s Open Registry Secretariat confirms that MCC Brussels has been deregistered in an email to the organization seen by POLITICO.
This decision “may deny you the possibility to (…) participate in certain meetings within the EU institutions”.
The message notes that the removal of the database of influence may lead to ineligibility to sit in expert groups convened by the European Commission to discuss important issues or during sessions organized by the European Parliament.
This suspension of the transparency register follows a complaint submitted by Corporate Europe Observatory, criticizing MCC Brussels for not publishing its sources of funding. He also denounced the think tank “spreading the propaganda of the Orbán regime“.
Launched in 2022, MCC Brussels received more than 6 million euros in 2024, according to the financial statement“to increase the awareness and influence of European political decision-makers about its specific approach to the political, socio-economic and cultural issues of our time”. Almost all of this funding came from the educational institution Mathias Corvinus Collegium, located in Budapest and controlled by close political allies d’Orban.
In a statement, Frank Furedi, founder and executive director of MCC Brussels, said the organization has “faced relentless attempts to marginalize, isolate and silence our work because we oppose major doctrines.” The think tank describes itself as taking a critical stance on EU climate change policy, and last year organized an event in Parliament called “The threat of trans ideology”, animated by the European deputy of Fidesz (the party of Orbán), László András.
John O’Brien, communications director of MCC Brussels, called the decision “political from the start” and emphasized that the complaint “comes from an activist organization that has campaigned against MCC Brussels, benefiting from the support of networks linked to the Open Society Foundation of George Soros and openly opposing the ideas we defend”.
The Transparency Register identifies more than 17,500 organizations campaigning and lobbying for EU policies, and requires them to regularly publish their financial information and adhere to a code of conduct.
MCC Brussels announced that it will “immediately contest this decision by all available means of appeal”.
Mari Eccles contributed to this article, which was first published by POLITICO in English and then edited in French by Jean-Christophe Catalon.
