Hungary to Dismantle Conservative MCC Foundation Over EU Funds

According to Junge Freiheit, parliamentary debate on the draft law was initially scheduled for yesterday but has been postponed until next week as lawmakers were occupied with a constitutional amendment.

The legislation, introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Bálint György Ruff, mandates that foundations not performing higher education activities as a public function must be dissolved by August 31 at the latest. Under the proposal, there would be no liquidation proceedings or legal successors, no right to appeal or judicial review, and all assets would revert to the state. The government claims the measure is necessary to maintain access to European Union funding.

While non-state and private founders may apply for exemption from automatic dissolution, any state-acquired assets would still transfer to government control. The draft law targets fifteen foundations in total, including the Batthyány-Lajos Foundation, the Élvonal Foundation, and the Foundation for Hungarian Culture, alongside the MCC.

Conservative Institution Under Assault

The Mathias Corvinus Collegium was established in 1996 with a mission to develop the skills and talents of young Hungarians, according to the institution’s website. Under the government of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, it served as a key institution for cultivating conservative and nationally-oriented citizens.

In 2020, the Hungarian Parliament granted the organization ten percent stakes in the oil company MOL and pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter, holdings valued at approximately one and a half billion euros at the time.

The think tank currently provides courses, activities, and educational programs to seven thousand students through twenty-seven regional centers. It had planned expansion into Vienna, Berlin, and London.

Brussels Presence Already Under Attack

MCC Brussels was founded in 2022 to advocate for strong nations, secured borders, and Christian ideals in defense of European civilization.

The European Union recently suspended MCC Brussels’ registration in the Transparency Register. This suspension prevents the organization from meeting with European Commission members and their cabinets, applying for long-term accreditation with the European Parliament, participating in intergroup working groups, or speaking at public hearings of parliamentary committees.

Frank Füredi, Managing Director of MCC Brussels, criticized the decision in a statement from the organization, describing four years of relentless attempts to marginalize, isolate, and silence the institution for challenging prevailing orthodoxies.

The coordinated assault on MCC at both national and EU levels represents a significant escalation in the suppression of conservative voices across Europe. The confiscation of assets worth billions would effectively eliminate an institution that has served as a counterweight to progressive dominance in European educational and policy circles.

With information from Junge Freiheit