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Brussels, July 8th 2016
MCC Brussels has welcomed a letter signed by more than 50 Members of the European Parliament calling on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene in the suspension of MCC Brussels from the EU Transparency Register and to ensure the organization is immediately reinstated pending an independent review.
The letter describes MCC Brussels as "a respected conservative think tank" that has "delivered much-needed balance to the political debate in Brussels" and warns that attempts to sideline organization's challenging the prevailing political consensus represent "a direct threat to democratic pluralism and open debate in the EU.”
Read the full letter and view signers here -
https://brussels.mcc.hu/uploads/default/0001/02/6a817b27eaa813334cc55f150fb6539010069c75.pdf
The MEPs raise serious concerns about both the basis for the suspension and the conduct of the Transparency Register Secretariat. They note that, after almost fourteen months of correspondence, MCC Brussels was informed of its suspension by email at 4:50 p.m. on Friday, 12 June 2026. They also point out that the original complaint against MCC Brussels was acknowledged by the Secretariat to be unfounded before the investigation shifted to questions surrounding the Single Representation Principle.The letter was circulated by MEP Tom Vandendriessche.
The parliamentarians question whether the rules have been applied consistently, noting that the Secretariat has indicated it is examining similar questions involving other organisations but that, to their knowledge, no comparable suspensions have occurred. They call on the European Commission to provide a full legal justification for the decision, suspend its enforcement pending an independent review, disclose how the relevant rules are being applied across organisations, investigate whether political or ideological considerations influenced the decision, and release relevant communications relating to the case.
Tony Gilland, Chief of Staff at MCC Brussels, welcomed the intervention.
"This letter makes clear that the Transparency Register Secretariat has serious questions to answer about its own processes and conduct. It goes to the heart of growing concerns that the European Commission has singled out conservative voices for unfair treatment. It is encouraging that political groups from across the European Parliament recognize the importance of this issue. If democratic values are to mean anything within the European institutions, transparency and equal treatment must apply to everyone-not just those with the 'correct' political views."
The letter is signed by Members of the European Parliament from a broad range of political parties and countries in the EU, reflecting growing concern that the case has implications far beyond a single organization. The signatories argue that the affair raises fundamental questions about whether the Transparency Register is being administered in a politically neutral manner and warn that selective enforcement risks undermining confidence in the EU's commitment to democratic pluralism.
MCC Brussels reiterated its commitment to transparency and expressed its appreciation to the Members of the European Parliament who have called for a fair, impartial and transparent resolution of the case. The organisation said it remains committed to securing its reinstatement and ensuring that the Transparency Register is administered equally for all organisations, regardless of their political viewpoint.
Background to the case can be found here -
