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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><ref name="NewmanTNAmag">Newman, Alex (January 8, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/print-magazine/item/27866-deep-state-behind-the-deep-state-cfr-trilaterals-bilderbergs Deep State Behind the Deep State: CFR, Trilaterals, Bilderbergs]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 9, 2018.</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"/><ref name="NewmanTNAmag"/> 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><ref name="NewmanTNAmag">Newman, Alex (January 8, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/print-magazine/item/27866-deep-state-behind-the-deep-state-cfr-trilaterals-bilderbergs Deep State Behind the Deep State: CFR, Trilaterals, Bilderbergs]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 9, 2018.</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"/><ref name="NewmanTNAmag"/> 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). [https://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>

Bilderberg attendees have connections to essentially every major political, corporate, and media organization in the world, illustrating the massive effect the organization is, at least, potentially able to assert on world affairs.<ref name="NewmanTNAmag"/><ref>Lutz, Ashley (June 12, 2012). [http://www.businessinsider.com/this-chart-shows-the-bilderberg-groups-connection-to-everything-in-the-world-2012-6 This Chart Shows The Bilderberg Group's Connection To Everything In The World]. ''Business Insider''. Retrieved December 21, 2017.</ref>

Bilderberg attendees have connections to essentially every major political, corporate, and media organization in the world, illustrating the massive effect the organization is, at least, potentially able to assert on world affairs.<ref name="NewmanTNAmag"/><ref>Lutz, Ashley (June 12, 2012). [http://www.businessinsider.com/this-chart-shows-the-bilderberg-groups-connection-to-everything-in-the-world-2012-6 This Chart Shows The Bilderberg Group's Connection To Everything In The World]. ''Business Insider''. Retrieved December 21, 2017.</ref>