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===Driver of global policy===

===Driver of global policy===

Despite the organization's insistence that it exists only for discussion, the group's activities and statements by attendees strongly indicate that the group exists to direct global policies in a globalist direction.<ref name="PlotGlobalism">Newman, Alex (June 4, 2014). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/18406-bilderberg-where-big-business-and-big-government-plot-globalism Bilderberg: Where Big Business and Big Government Plot Globalism]. ''The New American''. Retrieved November 26, 2017.</ref> For example, Willy Claes, a former Secretary General of [[NATO]] who attended Bilderberg meetings, stated that "the participants are then obviously considered to use this report in setting their policies in the environments in which they affect."<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> Etienne Davignon, a European Commissioner, stated that the Bilderberg meetings "helped create" the common [[Euro]] currency.<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> Dutch parliamentary leader Diederik Samsom admitted that Bilderberg attendees are at the meetings in their official governmental capacities, rather than as private citizens.<ref>Newman, Alex (May 30, 2014). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/18379-big-government-bilderberger-addresses-protesters Big Government Bilderberger Addresses Protesters]. ''The New American''. Retrieved November 26, 2017.</ref> According to Will Hutton, "the consensus established [at the meetings] is the backdrop against which policy is made worldwide."<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/>

Despite the Bilderberg group's insistence that it exists only for discussion, the group's activities and statements by attendees strongly indicate that the group exists to direct global policies in a globalist direction.<ref name="PlotGlobalism">Newman, Alex (June 4, 2014). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/18406-bilderberg-where-big-business-and-big-government-plot-globalism Bilderberg: Where Big Business and Big Government Plot Globalism]. ''The New American''. Retrieved November 26, 2017.</ref> For example, Willy Claes, a former Secretary General of [[NATO]] who attended Bilderberg meetings, stated that "the participants are then obviously considered to use this report in setting their policies in the environments in which they affect."<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> Etienne Davignon, a European Commissioner, stated that the Bilderberg meetings "helped create" the common [[Euro]] currency.<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> Dutch parliamentary leader Diederik Samsom admitted that Bilderberg attendees are at the meetings in their official governmental capacities, rather than as private citizens.<ref>Newman, Alex (May 30, 2014). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/europe/item/18379-big-government-bilderberger-addresses-protesters Big Government Bilderberger Addresses Protesters]. ''The New American''. Retrieved November 26, 2017.</ref> According to Will Hutton, "the consensus established [at the meetings] is the backdrop against which policy is made worldwide."<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/>

Strong evidence also exists indicating that the Bilderberg group plays a strong role in choosing world leaders. [[Bill Clinton]], who attended the meetings in 1991 as an obscure governor of Arkansas, was elected U.S. president one year later.<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> [[Tony Blair]] is just one of the several prime ministers of the [[United Kingdom]] who became prime minister shortly after attending the meeting.<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> [[Herman Van Rompuy]] of Belgium, who was not well known throughout the EU, became the President of the European Council – proclaiming the advancement of "global governance" – in 2009 very shortly after attending a Bilderberg meeting.<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> The Bilderberg group supported Rompuy's candidacy and held a dinner for that purpose.<ref>Waterfield, Bruno (November 16, 2009). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6582837/EU-Presidency-candidate-Herman-Van-Rompuy-calls-for-new-taxes.html EU Presidency candidate Herman Van Rompuy calls for new taxes]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved November 26, 2017.</ref>

Strong evidence also exists indicating that the Bilderberg group plays a strong role in choosing world leaders. [[Bill Clinton]], who attended the meetings in 1991 as an obscure governor of Arkansas, was elected U.S. president one year later.<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> [[Tony Blair]] is just one of the several prime ministers of the [[United Kingdom]] who became prime minister shortly after attending the meeting.<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> [[Herman Van Rompuy]] of Belgium, who was not well known throughout the EU, became the President of the European Council – proclaiming the advancement of "global governance" – in 2009 very shortly after attending a Bilderberg meeting.<ref name="PlotGlobalism"/> The Bilderberg group supported Rompuy's candidacy and held a dinner for that purpose.<ref>Waterfield, Bruno (November 16, 2009). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/6582837/EU-Presidency-candidate-Herman-Van-Rompuy-calls-for-new-taxes.html EU Presidency candidate Herman Van Rompuy calls for new taxes]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved November 26, 2017.</ref>