The Bilderberg Group is an informal, secretive and international association of influential people, meeting every year. Its name is that of the hotel in the Netherlands where the group first met in 1954. Its founder members were Denis Healey, Joseph Retinger, David Rockefeller and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.

It has an office in Leiden, in the Netherlands.

Declared purpose

The original intention of the Bilderberg group was to further understanding between Western Europe and North America through informal meetings between influential individuals. Each year, a "steering committee" devises a selected invitation list with a maximum of 100 names. The location of their annual meeting is not secret, and the agenda and list of participants are openly available to the public, but the meetings themselves are shrouded in secrecy. Security is managed by military intelligence.

The Bilderberg Group is for Europeans and North Americans – Asians, Middle Easterners, Latin Americans and Africans are not invited. Of course, the classification is made on the basis of residence and nationality, rather than ethnicity.

Attendees pledge absolute secrecy on what has been discussed.

Views on the Nature of the Group

The idea behind the secrecy is to enable people to speak freely without need to carefully consider how each word might be interpreted by the mass media. However, it is disputable if democracy can be practiced off the record. However, as many of the attendants have gained their power through democratic process, it is disputable if it is morally desirable for them to practice their power off the record. This secrecy has made conspiracy theorists claim that the meetings have a sinister purpose. This feeling is enhanced by the fact that some say that they are merely a front for the Round table groups, or even a semi-public front for the Illuminati or assorted other secret societies.

Depending on the ideological prism applied, the Bilderberg club may be considered:

• a harmless "discussion group" of politicians, media moguls, academics and business leaders
• an exclusive international lobby of the power elite of Europe and North America, capable of influencing international policy
• a capitalist secret society operating entirely through self-interest, according notably to Left-leaning conspiracy theorists
• an underground neo-Nazi group hoping to establish a 21st century fascist world government, according notably to Right-leaning conspiracy theorists.

Attendees

Attendees of Bilderberg include central bankers, defense experts, press barons, government ministers, prime ministers, royalty, international financiers and political leaders from Europe and America. Guests in 2003 included US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, neoconservative Richard Perle, banker David Rockefeller as well as various other members of the Rockefeller family, Henry Kissinger, Queen Beatrix, Bill Gates, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and high officials of assorted governments.

Some of the Western world's leading financiers and foreign policy strategists attend Bilderberg. Rumsfeld is an active Bilderberger; so is Peter Sutherland from Ireland, a former European Union commissioner and chairman of Goldman Sachs and of BP. Rumsfeld and Sutherland served together in 2000 on the board of the Swedish/Swiss energy company ABB. US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz is also a member.

2004

In the 2004 meeting from June 3 to June 6, held in Italy, reported attendees included many of the people attending in 2003, British Petroleum chief John Browne, US Senator John Edwards, World Bank president James Wolfensohn, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, President George W. Bush, and Melinda Gates, wife of Bill Gates.

EU Commissioners

European Union's Commissioners who have attended include:

• Ritt Bjerregaard (1995)
• Hans van der Broek (1995)
• Emma Bonino (1998)
• Leo Brittan (1998)
• Mario Monti (1996) (former or present member of the Steering Committee and Trilateral Commission as well)
• Erkki Liikanen
• Pedro Solbes Mira
• Günter Verheugen
• Antonio Vitorino
• Frederik Bolkestein
• Romano Prodi (Steering Committee Member of Bilderberg in the 80s)
• Wim Duisenberg
• Pascal Lamy
• Chris Patten

Refer to links to discussion at European Parliament for proof.

External links

• Guardian article on the group (http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4149485,00.html)
• Elite power brokers meet in secret (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3031717.stm) BBC News 15 May 2003
• Press Advisory (http://www.dod.gov/advisories/1996/p052996_p179-96.html) US DoD 29 May 1996
• Strengthening the Bipartisan Center: An Internationalist Agenda for America (http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/EOP/NSC/html/speeches/19991104.html) Samuel R. Berger, Address to the Bilderberg Steering Committee 11 November 1999
• Conspiracy Realities (http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2004/08_23_2004/realities.htm) – The New American Vol. 20, No. 17 23 August 2004
• Corporate Governance: Does Capitalism need fixing? (http://europa.eu.int/comm/commissioners/bolkestein/docs/speeches/20020530-governance_en.pdf) EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein's speech at the Bilderberg meeting 30 May 2002
• Bilderberg article (http://www.parascope.com/mx/articles/bilderberg.htm)
• Bilderberger database (http://www.cc.jyu.fi/%7Epasaojan/mirror/Bilderberger-database.zip) - Database of the participants of 15 of the meetings (Microsoft Access format)
• Bilderberg meeting 1999 (http://www.schnews.org.uk/bilderberg/) SchNEWS claims to have detailed documentation of the meeting
• Bilderberg under radar at European Parliament
  • Bilderberg meetings (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?SAME_LEVEL=1&LEVEL=5&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y&DETAIL=&PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+P-1998-3880+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN) – MEP Patricia McKenna (V) to European Commission December 11, 1998
    • Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?SAME_LEVEL=1&LEVEL=5&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y&DETAIL=&PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQA+P-1998-3880-N+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN) 19 January 1999
  • Participation of Commissioner Emma Bonino in the 1998 Bilderberg meeting (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-1998-3899+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=3&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) – McKenna 4 January 1999
  • Participation of Commissioner Hans van den Broek in the 1995 Bilderberg meeting (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-1998-3900+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=3&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) – McKenna 4 January 1999
  • Participation of Commissioner Leon Brittan in the 1998 Bilderberg meeting  (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-1998-3901+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=3&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) – McKenna 4 January 1999
  • Participation of Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard in the 1995 Bilderberg meeting (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-1998-3902+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=3&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) – McKenna 4 January 1999
  • Participation of Commissioner Mario Monti in Bilderberg (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-1998-3903+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=3&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) – McKenna 4 January 1999
    • Joint answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?L=EN&OBJID=40240&LEVEL=4&SAME_LEVEL=1&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) 5 February 1999
  • Commissioner Monti's membership of the Executive Committee of the Trilateral Commission (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+P-1999-0583+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=3&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) – McKenna 3 March 1999
    • Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?L=EN&OBJID=42893&LEVEL=5&SAME_LEVEL=1&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) 8 April 1999
  • Commissioner Solbes Mira and Trilateral/Bilderberg (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?L=EN&OBJID=88236&DETAIL=H-2000-0358&MODE-CRE=NAV) MEP Patricia McKenna 19 May 2000
  • Commissioners' links to the Bilderberg Group (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+P-2003-1370+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=3&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) – MEP Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission 4 April 2003
    • Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?L=EN&OBJID=66797&LEVEL=4&SAME_LEVEL=1&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) 15 May 2003
  • Incompatibility between the holding of a Community decision-making office and membership of the Bilderberg Club and the Trilateral Commission (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2003-1846+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=3&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) MEP Mario Borghezio(NI) to the Commission 3 June 2003
    • Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?L=EN&OBJID=69328&LEVEL=4&SAME_LEVEL=1&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) 6 August 2003
  • Other discussions of interest:
    • Commission policy on public opinion (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?PUBREF=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-1998-2617+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=3&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) Sören Wibe (PSE) to the Commission 1 September 1998
      • Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (http://www2.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade2?L=EN&OBJID=39354&LEVEL=4&SAME_LEVEL=1&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y) 20 October 1998
  • November 2002 Caledar of Javier Solana (http://ue.eu.int/cms3_applications/applications/solana/archAgendaMonth.asp?cmsid=246&month=11&year=2002) "Address to the Steering Committee Bilderberg followed by working lunch"
• Discussion on the topic of Bilderberg at the House of Commons:
  • Sir David Hannay: Attendance at Bilderberg Conference (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199596/ldhansrd/vo960319/text/60319w01.htm#60319w01_sbhd0) – Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government 19 March 1996
  • Complaint against Mr Kenneth Clarke (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmstnprv/180iii/sp0304.htm) – Memorandum submitted by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards 22 July 1997
  • Bilderberg Group (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980330/text/80330w06.htm#80330w06.html_sbhd6) – A question by Mr Gill and an answer by the Prime Minister 30 March 1998
  • Bilderberg Group (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980407/text/80407w21.htm#80407w21.html_sbhd2) – A question by Mr Winterton and an answer by Mr Rooker 7 April 1998
  • Bilderberg Group (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980408/text/80408w33.htm#80408w33.html_sbhd4) – A question by Mr Winterton and an answer by Mrs Roche 8 April 1998
  • Bilderberg Group (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980615/text/80615w02.htm#80615w02.html_sbhd3) – A question by Mr Keetch and an answer by the Prime Minister 15 June 1998
  • Bilderberg Meeting, Turnberry (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980710/text/80710w06.htm#80710w06.html_sbhd0) – A question by Mr Gill and an answer by Mr Robertson 10 July 1998
  • Parliamentary Question (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980713/text/80713w07.htm#80713w07.html_sbhd1)] – A question by Mr Gill and an answer by Mr Robertson 13 July 1998
  • Bilderberg Meeting, Turnbern (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980720/text/80720w21.htm#80720w21.html_sbhd8) – A question by Mr Keetch and an answer by Mr Robertson 20 July 1998
  • Bilderberg Meeting, Turnberry (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo980723/text/80723w02.htm#80723w02.html_sbhd5) – A question by Mr Gill and an answer by Mr Robertson 23 July 1998
  • Analysis of complaints investigated (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmstnprv/1147/114705.htm) – Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and the Committee on Standards and Privileges 10 November 1998
  • Bilderberg Group (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990507/text/90507w02.htm#90507w02.htm_sbhd5) – A question by Mr Keetch and an answer by the Prime Minister 7 May 1999
  • Bilderberg Group (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990520/text/90520w01.htm#90520w01.htm_sbhd3) – A question by Mr Bercow and an answer by the Prime Minister, 20 May 1999
  • The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Mr. John Spellar speech (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990610/debtext/90610-28.htm#90610-28_spmin0) – Commons Hansard Debates, Column 870 10 June 1999
  • Bilderberg Group (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990726/text/90726w08.htm#90726w08.htm-sbhd7) – A question by Mr Bercow and an answer by the Prime Minister 26 July 1999
  • Bilderberg Meetings (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo990727/text/90727w58.htm#90727w58.htm_sbhd11) – A question by Mr Bercow and an answer by Ms Quinn 27 July 1999
  • Bilderberg Meetings (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo991108/text/91108w12.htm#91108w12.htm_sbhd6) – A question by Mr Bercow and an answer by the Prime Minister 8 November 1999
  • Bilderberg Conference (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo991111/text/91111w09.htm#91111w09.htm_sbhd2) – A question by Mr Bercow and an answer by Mr Hoon 11 November 1999
  • Bilderberg Conference (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmhansrd/vo000704/text/00704w01.htm#00704w01.html_sbhd3) – A question by Mr Bercow and an answer by the Prime Minister 4 July 2000
  • Committee on Standards and Privileges, Minutes of Evidence (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200001/cmselect/cmstnprv/267/1022703.htm) – Mr Levitt, Question 86 to Mr Clarke 27 February 2001
  • Turnberry Bilderberg Meeting (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo021107/text/21107105.htm#21107105.html-sbhd8) – A question by Mr Rosindell and an answer by Mr Blunkett 7 November 2002
• BBC online article on group (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3773019.stm)
• Bilderberg.org (http://www.bilderberg.org) by Tony Gosling – The transatlantic power elite's secretive Bilderberg conferences & state terrorism research (from Bristol, England)

• REGISTER OF LORDS' INTERESTS (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200304/ldreg/reg21.htm) ROLL OF IPSDEN, Lord: Member, Bilderberg Steering Committee
• Register of Members' Interests (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmregmem/040908/memi06.htm) CABLE, Dr. Vincent: 3-6 June 2004, to Stresa, Italy, to attend Bilderberg Conference
• Register of Members' Interests (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmregmem/memi06.htm) CABLE, Dr. Vincent: 15-8 May 2003, to Versailles, France, to attend a Bilderberg Conference
• Register of Journalists' Interests (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmregmem/memi06.htm) CLARKE, Rt. Hon. Kenneth: 3-6 June Portugal, to attend Bilderberg meetings
• Register of Members' Interests (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmregmem/memi06.htm) CLARKE, Rt. Hon. Kenneth: 14-17 May 1998, I attended the Bilderberg Conference at Turnberry in Scotland
• Register of Journalists' Interests (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmregmem/memi19.htm) MANDELSON, Rt. Hon. Peter: June 1999, to Portugal, to attend Bilderberg Conference
• Documents on Canadian External Relations (http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/department/history/dcer/details-en.asp?intRefId=6603) – Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
• Final Warning: A History of the New World Order – Chapter 8.3: The Bilderberg Group (http://www.modernhistoryproject.org/mhp/ArticleDisplay.php?Article=FinalWarn08-3) – The Modern History Project

Books

• Them: Adventures with Extremists — Jon Ronson (Paperback — Simon & Schuster — January 1, 2003) — ISBN 0743233212 — contains an interview with Denis Healey about Bilderberg and the author's tale of investigating the group.

Magazines

• Bilderbergers give John Edwards the nod?(Inside Report)(50th annual Bilderberg Conference) – The New American; 9 August 2004