MCC Brussels

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/mcc-brussels-fights-back-against-brussels-transparency-register-bias/

Conservative Think Tank Fights Back Against Brussels MCC Brussels warns that the “single registration principle” used against it by Brussels could potentially affect thousands of entities.

Europe’s energy crisis is not an accident.

It is what happens when Brussels abandons cheap, abundant energy and turns energy policy into climate dogma.

On this week’s Deep Dive, John O’Brien speaks to

about whether Europe can still keep the lights on.Tell us what you think ?

Europe’s Energy Delusion: Can Brussels Keep the Lights On? I MCC Brussels Deep Dive In this MCC Brussels Deep Dive, John O’Brien speaks to Professor Sa...

🇺🇸🇪🇺 America at 250: Revolution, Liberty, and the Future of the West

As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, MCC Brussels convened leading scholars, policymakers, and public intellectuals in Brussels to examine a question of growing importance on both sides of the Atlantic:
What does the American Revolution still mean for the future of Western civilisation?

Opening the conference, MCC Brussels Head of Policy Jacob Reynolds highlighted the enduring significance of the American founding- not only as a defining moment in American history, but as an event that profoundly shaped the political development of Europe itself. At a time when questions of sovereignty, defence, national interest, economic security, and the future of the transatlantic alliance have returned to the centre of political debate, the conference provided an opportunity for robust and open discussion between European and American voices.
In his welcome address, Frank Furedi, Executive Director of MCC Brussels, reminded participants that the Declaration of Independence was never solely an American story. Its influence could be seen in the Irish rebellion of 1798, the Polish and Greek struggles for independence, the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and the Belgian Revolution of 1830. He argued that the Founding Fathers combined philosophical depth with common sense, creating institutions capable of preserving liberty while adapting to change. Today, however, both Europe and America face a crisis of confidence as many of the “self-evident truths” that once underpinned public life are increasingly questioned.
The first panel, “Revolution or Hegemony? Re-assessing America’s Contribution to Western Civilisation,” explored the deeper intellectual legacy of the American founding.

James Hankins called on the West to think of itself not merely as a collection of states, but as a civilisation rooted in a shared inheritance of Greek philosophy, Roman law, Christianity, and modern constitutionalism. Francesco Giubilei described Rome, Jerusalem, and Washington as the three pillars of Western civilisation and warned that contemporary cultural trends, including cancel culture and identity politics, threaten the West from within.

Rita Koganzon examined one of the Revolution’s most enduring legacies: education. She argued that America’s highly decentralised system—with local control, religious schools, homeschooling, and limited federal oversight- reflects a longstanding scepticism of state-directed education and offers a distinctive model for managing social and cultural pluralism. Albrecht Rothacher highlighted the reciprocal nature of the transatlantic relationship, noting that while Europe helped shape early America through its institutions, learning, and migration, America later inspired European entrepreneurship, innovation, and democratic movements.

The second panel, “America and Europe: A Civilisational Split?”, addressed whether current tensions across the Atlantic reflect temporary political disagreements or a deeper divergence in values and outlook. Speakers including Matthew Crawford, Anatol Lieven, Thibaut Mercier, and Peter Wood debated issues ranging from free speech and migration to post-liberal politics, universalism, and the future of democratic culture. While both continents continue to draw upon common civilisational roots, the discussion revealed increasingly different approaches to many of today’s most pressing challenges.

Attention then turned to geopolitics and strategy in the third panel, “America vs Europe: Whose National Interest?” Featuring Marieke Ehlers MEP, Matt Mowers, and Hermann Tertsch MEP, the discussion examined defence spending, industrial competitiveness, energy security, China, Ukraine, the Middle East, digital regulation, and the future of Western cooperation. A central question emerged: can the Atlantic alliance thrive in an era of more assertive national interests, or must it be reimagined as a partnership of sovereign nations united by a shared civilisational inheritance?

In his closing remarks, Frank Furedi returned to the broader cultural stakes of the debate. He argued that the West is confronting not only political and economic challenges but also a growing uncertainty about the moral and cultural boundaries that sustain society. Linking questions of civilisation to education, culture, family life, and democratic citizenship, he reaffirmed MCC Brussels’ commitment to providing an independent platform for serious intellectual exchange.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, the conference demonstrated that the questions raised by the Revolution- about liberty, self-government, truth, citizenship, and the meaning of the West itself- remain as relevant today as they were in 1776.

What!!!!!!

You cannot make it to our conference today marking a major anniversary -the founding of the United States of America?

It comes at a decisive time for America, Europe, and the now-strained “Western alliance”.

But don't worry we got you as always - tune into the livestream right here all day Wednesday.

From 10.30am CET until 17.00

America at 250: Revolution, Liberty, and the Future of the West The major anniversary of the founding of the United States of Ameri...

On 82nd anniversary, we honor the courage of American, British, Canadian & Allied forces who stormed Normandy beaches to liberate Europe in 1944.
Sacrifice forged a transatlantic bond between the US & Europe- a partnership that defended freedom then- stands strong today.

In this episode: is Bart de Wever’s Belgium a genuine model for reform, or a warning about how difficult reform has become? Has Europe really shifted right on migration, deportations and return hubs? And as Brussels demands more money for defence, Ukraine, migration and industrial policy, who is actually going to pay?

Host John O’Brien is joined by Dr Philipp Siegert from MCC Brussels and Carl Deconinck of Brussels Signal to discuss the political pressures now shaping Belgium and the wider European Union.

First, the panel turns to Belgium, where Bart de Wever’s government is trying to tackle fiscal strain, migration pressure, nuclear energy, defence spending, pensions and trade-union resistance all at once. Belgium becomes the test case for a wider European problem: voters want change, but the institutions built over decades are not easily moved.

The second topic is Europe’s migration U-turn. From return hubs to tougher deportation policies and pressure on human-rights law, the panel asks whether the political centre has genuinely accepted the need for stricter borders, or is merely trying to neutralise populist pressure while keeping the old assumptions intact.

Finally, the episode turns to the EU budget and the looming fight over common debt, eurobonds and Brussels’ growing spending ambitions. With Germany, France and other member states under serious fiscal pressure, the question is whether the EU is becoming a geopolitical power — or a permanent money machine.

Can Belgium Be Fixed? I MCC Brussels Podcast In this episode: is Bart de Wever’s Belgium a genuine model for reform, or a warning about how difficult reform has become? Has Europe really shifted right o...

Must Watch.

Britain’s political class thought populism could be contained through censorship, speaker bans and moral blackmail. Instead, the revolt is spreading.

In this episode, host John O’Brien is joined by Frank Furedi and Richard Schenk to examine the growing divide between Europe’s governing elites and ordinary citizens. From the huge “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London to Brussels’ ideological campaigns, the discussion explores why millions of Europeans increasingly feel politically homeless.

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🔥 Is populism a threat to democracy - or democracy’s last defence?

That was the central question at MCC Brussels this week as sociologist and author and MCC Brussels Executive Director Frank Furedi launched his new book In Defence of Populism in a lively debate with Euractiv Editor-in-Chief Matthew Karnitschnig, moderated by John O’Brien.

🇪🇺 Against the backdrop of Europe’s battles over migration, sovereignty, identity, living costs and the green agenda, the discussion tackled why populist movements continue to reshape politics across the continent.

Furedi argued that populism is often dismissed with labels like “far right” or “reactionary” by elites who no longer understand ordinary citizens. He described populism not as an ideology, but as a democratic demand for recognition, representation and voice.

🗣️ “People feel like strangers in their own countries.”
He pointed to what he called a “double betrayal”:
• elites abandoning national and cultural traditions
• the traditional left shifting away from working-class concerns

Karnitschnig agreed mainstream parties have lost touch - but questioned whether populist movements can actually govern effectively once in power, citing examples from Hungary, Italy and the United States.

⚡ The debate intensified around migration, borders, media hostility, corruption and whether today’s populist surge reflects a deeper crisis of democratic legitimacy.

Audience questions pushed the discussion even further:
➡️ Can populism survive institutional resistance?
➡️ Is it inherently right-wing?
➡️ Can popular frustration become lasting political change?

No final consensus emerged - but one thing was clear:
Populism is no longer a fringe phenomenon. It is now central to Europe’s political future.

📍MCC Brussels | Le Plaza

📖 In Defence of Populism by Frank Furedi
What do you think - is populism renewing democracy or undermining it?

You can get the book here-

https://www.amazon.com.be/Defence-Populism-Frank-Furedi/dp/1509571671

What! You cannot make the book launch tonight!

On Wednesday 20 May 2026, leading sociologist and social commentator Frank Furedi will present his latest book, In Defence of Populism, in central Brussels from 18:30–20:00

At a time when populism dominates headlines-and divides opinion-this event brings together two of Europe’s most incisive voices for a dynamic, head-to-head exchange of ideas. Furedi will be joined by Matthew Karnitschnig, Editor-in-Chief of Euractiv and former Chief Europe Correspondent for Politico, for a conversation that promises insight, challenge, and intellectual energy rather than simple consensus.

Don't worry we go you covered!!!!!!

You can watch the Live stream from 18.30 at

What Next for Populism? 18:30 - 20:00Join MCC Brussels for a timely and provocative discussion to launch Frank Furedi’s latest book: ‘In Defence of Populism’.As voters across Europe...

🇧🇪✨ From 11–14 May, MCC Brussels welcomed 20 high school students and 3 teachers from Felvidék

For many of the students, this was their first visit to Belgium and an eye-opening opportunity to discover Brussels, Wallonia, and the institutions at the heart of European politics.

Over three days, the group explored Belgian culture, history, and landscapes while deepening their understanding of the EU. At MCC Brussels, Richard Schenk introduced students to the historical and structural development of the EU institutions, while Andrea Bianchi delivered a session on the deep roots of the First World War on Europe’s eastern flank and its continued relevance today.

The visit also included guided tours of the European Parliament and the Parlamentarium, a trip to the Chocolate Museum, and a full-day excursion to Waterloo, where students visited the battlefield museum and climbed the Butte du Lion.
A special feature of the programme was the students’ own active role: throughout the visit, they delivered short presentations to their classmates on history and political institutions, making the trip more dynamic, interactive, and memorable.

We are delighted that the students returned home with a broader view of Brussels, Belgium, and Europe and with memories that will accompany them on their educational journey.