• Date: Thursday, 23rd October 2025
  • Time: 09.00 - 10.30
  • Location: Central Brussels, venue TBA

(Please note: the dress code is smart casual or business attire. Sports shoes and jeans are not permitted and a jacket is required for men)

REGISTER HERE

Join us for our 3rd annual Freedom Breakfast commemorating the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

Welcome by:

  • Hungarian Ambassador His Excellency Dr Tamás Iván Kovács

Speakers:

  • Professor Frank Furedi, Executive Director, MCC Brussels
  • Jakub Moroz, theatre critic, broadcaster

MCC Brussels Freedom Breakfast

Commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. On October 23, 1956, the Hungarian Revolution erupted, a powerful testament to the unyielding human spirit in the face of Soviet oppression. This pivotal moment not only exposed the hostility of Soviet ideology toward freedom but also reignited the flame of patriotism, as Hungarians courageously fought for their nation’s independence. Today, as Europe grapples with renewed threats to sovereignty, the legacy of 1956 resonates more urgently than ever. The revolutionaries understood a timeless truth: true freedom is inseparable from national independence. The Hungarian Revolution was not an isolated struggle but a shared cry for liberty, echoing powerfully in Poland, where solidarity with Hungary underscored a profound bond between the two nations. United by their cultural heritage and relentless pursuit of freedom, Hungarians and Poles stood together against tyranny, defending their national identity, faith, and fundamental rights. In today’s Europe, the principles of 1956 are under siege. Brussels, quick to label such defiance as “populist” or “far-right,” has systematically demonised the principles which inspired the revolutionaries. Yet their courage remains a beacon, reminding us that independence is the bedrock of liberty.

The MCC Brussels Freedom Breakfast will honour the heroes of 1956, celebrating their enduring legacy while sparking a vital conversation about the future. How can we safeguard national sovereignty in an era of growing challenges? How do we inspire younger generations to cherish the lessons of this historic fight for freedom?

Join us to reflect on these questions and to recommit to the patriotic spirit that changed Europe - and the world - forever.

Read Frank Furedi's previous article published in the Times of London in 2006:

 ‘On Sunday we played football. Then the Soviet tanks arrived’

 

REGISTER HERE