The Fidesz-linked Mediaworks media holding fully financed the operations of an English-language Brussels news site throughout 2024, according to Hungarian and Belgian documents obtained by EUalive\u2019s partner \u00c1tl\u00e1tsz\u00f3. The website, Brussels Signal, is owned by a former advisor to Hungary\u2019s outgoing governing party, but its funding sources had previously been unknown.<\/p>\n
The arrangement is particularly noteworthy because, in exchange for the 550 million forint funding, the newsroom was required not only to share content but also to pass on information acquired in Brussels directly to Mediaworks contacts.<\/p>\n
Mediaworks covered all costs<\/p>\n
\u00c1tl\u00e1tsz\u00f3 has reviewed the contract signed on 20 February 2024, by Mediaworks Hungary Zrt. (represented by CEO-Chair Erika K\u00e1lm\u00e1n and Deputy CEO P\u00e9ter Csermely) as the client, and the Belgian company Remedia Europe Srl, which publishes Brussels Signal.<\/p>\n
The agreement states that Brussels Signal operates primarily in Brussels, allowing it to quickly and directly access press and other information of potential interest to Mediaworks. In return for approximately 1.5 million euros (about 550 million forints), Remedia was required to provide access to and usage rights for the site\u2019s content.<\/p>\n
Beyond this standard content-sharing arrangement common in the media industry, Remedia took on additional tasks. It had to promptly inform Mediaworks-designated contacts of any \u201cpress intelligence\u201d obtained by Brussels Signal journalists, with Mediaworks deciding what counted as relevant. Given the contract\u2019s confidentiality clauses regarding Mediaworks and the agreement itself, this effectively created a mechanism for confidential information gathering directed by Mediaworks.<\/p>\n
Remedia also agreed to provide experience, advice, and contacts to so-called \u201cRelevant Persons.\u201d These included Mediaworks\u2019 Brussels correspondents and another vaguely defined group described as \u201cother contributors participating in content production tasks for the benefit of the Client.\u201d<\/p>\n
These Relevant Persons were to be granted access to Brussels Signal\u2019s infrastructure, including its well-located downtown office on Rue Montoyer. Remedia was further obligated to actively assist with local administrative matters and securing housing for their settlement in Brussels.<\/p>\n
\u00c1tl\u00e1tsz\u00f3 has confirmed that in the contract year, Remedia Europe had no other revenue besides the 1.5 million euros from Mediaworks. In other words, Mediaworks covered all costs of Brussels Signal that year, including the elegant office rent and journalists\u2019 salaries, down to the last euro cent.<\/p>\n
This unusual arrangement is unlikely to win new friends for Fidesz in the Belgian capital, where espionage scandals linked to Viktor Orb\u00e1n\u2019s outgoing government have already caused tension.<\/p>\n
Influence network<\/p>\n
Brussels Signal\u2019s business model had long suggested reliance on Hungarian political funding. Operating in expensive Brussels, the site collected no subscriptions, attracted no donors, and ran almost no ads.<\/p>\n
Details of the financing for Remedia Europe and its Hungarian parent company, Remedia Corp Kft. (which received a 174 million forint loan at launch), had remained unknown until now.<\/p>\n
The contract with Mediaworks was signed by Remedia\u2019s CEO and indirect owner, Patrick Egan. The American-born Egan previously worked as a campaign advisor, including for the outgoing Fidesz government. His Hungarian wife was formerly a Fidesz local councilor.<\/p>\n
Through another company, FWD Affairs Kft., Egan is clearly linked to the international influence network built with public funds to support Viktor Orb\u00e1n\u2019s policies. A key funder of this network is the Batthy\u00e1ny Lajos Foundation (BLA), which supports think tanks, media outlets, and intellectuals.<\/p>\n
FWD Affairs has received 255 million forints from the BLA so far to publish the English-language Remix news site, which focuses on V4 (Visegr\u00e1d Group) countries. Remix has ties to Orb\u00e1n\u2019s sovereignist Polish allies and even to a Russian espionage case.<\/p>\n
\u00c1tl\u00e1tsz\u00f3 understands that FWD Affairs also invoiced Remedia, which transferred about 150,000 euros (roughly 55 million forints, or nearly 10% of its Mediaworks-derived revenue) to the Hungarian firm for \u201cbusiness consulting.\u201d It is difficult to find a rational explanation for this beyond Egan ensuring he profited from the Mediaworks funding. The Hungarian company is reportedly profitable, while Remedia accumulated a 949,000 euro loss by the end of 2024.<\/p>\n
Threat instead of response<\/p>\n
\u00c1tl\u00e1tsz\u00f3 contacted Erika K\u00e1lm\u00e1n and P\u00e9ter Csermely by email with the information in this article and specific questions. Instead of a substantive reply, the outlet received a legal threat from a central Mediaworks email address. It claimed that details in Mediaworks contracts constitute business secrets, and that using or publishing data obtained through \u201cprohibited acquisition\u201d is a criminal offense.<\/p>\n
No response was received to questions sent to Patrick Egan.<\/p>\n