Tuesday, June 09, 2015

 

Forget the G7 summit – Bilderberg is where the big guns go

Covering issues from Europe to terrorism and IT, the lesser known Bilderberg policy conference includes prime ministers, CEOs from banks, airlines, oil and the arms industry, and even George Osborne

Austrian police officers check cars near the town of Telfs, prior the 2015 Bilderberg conference.
Austrian police officers check cars near the town of Telfs, prior the 2015 Bilderberg conference. 

As one summit closes, another opens. Thursday sees the start of the influential Bilderberg policy conference, which this year is being held in Austria, just 16 miles south of the G7 summit, and in a similarly inaccessible luxury alpine resort. The participant list for the conference has just been released by the organisation, and some big names leap off the page.
No fewer than three serving European prime ministers will be attending, from the Netherlands, Finland and Belgium. They will be discussing “European strategy” with the head of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg, and the president of Austria, Heinz Fischer. Two European finance ministers are on the list: one Dutch, the other George Osborne. The UK chancellor is a regular attendee of the Bilderberg summit, and this year he will be showing off his post-election glow. Unlike that other Bilderberg regular, Ed Balls, who is being invited back despite having by some considerable distance the weakest job title on the list: “former shadow chancellor of the exchequer.

Europe’s hottest financial potato, Greece, is on the conference agenda, and it’s good to know Benoît Coeuré, a member of the executive board of the European Central Bank, will be there to discuss it in strictest privacy with interested parties, such as the heads of Deutsche Bank, Lazard, Banco Santander and HSBC.
The scandal-hit HSBC and everyone’s favourite vampire squid, Goldman Sachs, are both extremely well represented at this year’s conference. HSBC in particular by its chairman, its busy chief legal officer, and board member Rona Fairhead, who is also on the board of PepsiCo and chair of the BBC Trust. Good to know the BBC is in such safe hands.
Other financial luminaries on the list include the vice-chairman of BlackRock, the CEO of JP Morgan Asset Management and the president of the Royal Bank of Canada, which is the nation’s largest financial institution. Morgan Stanley will be represented in Telfs by board member Klaus Kleinfeld, who also runs the world’s third largest aluminium producer, Alcoa.
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From the worlds of industry and manufacturing are some eye-wateringly big names. The CEO of Michelin is invited, along with the head of Roche, the CEO of Royal Dutch Shell, the chairman of BP, the CEO of Siemens Austria and the heads of various industrial conglomerates such as Techint and Investor AB, companies so large they’re hard to classify. Although “gigantic” goes some way towards it.
It’s a heady step up into the big league for Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair. He’ll doubtless be hoping to thrash out a few last-minute deals over dinner with the head of Airbus, Thomas Enders.
Apart from making holiday jets, Airbus is also one of the world’s biggest arms manufacturers, and the 2015 conference agenda has a distinct whiff of war. Chemical weapons threats and Nato are both set to be discussed. Luckily the head of Nato is there to discuss it.
As ever, foreign policy formation is a big part of the conference. Terrorism and Iran both make the agenda this year, and participants can expect a high-level briefing from senior US State Department official John R Allen, the special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter Isil. And it’s likely that the subject of Russia will be of interest to the German defence minister and deputy defence minister, both of whom have found the time this week to be in Telfs. As has the head of the Danish intelligence service, who will likely have a part to play in the session of cybersecurity.

Finally, it’s worth noting the growing presence of Google at Bilderberg. The company’s executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, is on the group’s steering committee; he’ll be joined in Austria by his vice-president for engineering, advanced technology and projects, and the vice-president of engineering for the not-at-all terrifying sounding Google DeepMind. They, presumably, will be leading the session on artificial intelligence. This will be listened to with great interest by Peter Thiel, the founder of PayPal and director of Facebook, as he continues his quest to merge with computers. But that’s another story.
For now, the story is: Bilderberg 2015 has an extremely high-powered participant list, featuring a large number of senior politicians and public figures. With participants this powerful, and an agenda containing this many hot topics, the Telfs policy conference is sure to be covered in depth by the world’s press. And by “sure to be”, I mean probably won’t be. For reasons that, as ever, escape me.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/08/bilderberg-summit-forget-the-g7 

Revealed: Guestlist for secretive Bilderberg includes Osborne, Balls, BBC Trust chief, spies, bankers and royalty

  • Chancellor is most senior British figure to attend in Telfs-Buchen, Austria
  • Osborne is the only serving UK politician named on the official list
  • Ex-Labour MP Ed Balls and BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead expected
  • Bosses of Santander, JP Morgan, HSBC, Shell, BP, Google and Airbus
George Osborne, his former Labour rival Ed Balls and BBC Trust chairman Rona Cameron are to attend the secretive Bilderberg Group conference, it emerged today.
Politicians, bankers, spies, business leaders and royalty will rub shoulders at the conference, later this week, held this year at Telfs-Buchen in Austria.
The talks are shrouded in mystery because no record is kept of who politicians meet or what is discussed.
Chancellor George Osborne is the most senior politician from the UK due to attend the Bilderberg Conference in Austria this week
Chancellor George Osborne is the most senior politician from the UK due to attend the Bilderberg Conference in Austria this week
Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who lost his seat in last month's election, will attend the conference
BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead is attending the conference
Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who lost his seat in last month's election, will attend the conference alongside BBC Trust chairman Rona Fairhead
Since its inception in 1954, Bilderberg has held annual gatherings of 120-150 invited political leaders and business experts.
Those on the guest list this week include the heads of banking and financial giants including Deutsche Bank, Santander, AXA Group, JP Morgan, HSBC, BlackRock and Goldman Sachs.
Senior figures from Royal Dutch Shell, BP, AXA Group, Google, Airbus, Fiat Chrysler, LinkedIn, Siemens and Ryanair are also expected.
Conspiracy theorists believe this is where leaders plot world domination. Officially, it is claimed it is designed to 'foster dialogue between Europe and North America'.
The group describes the conference as 'a forum for informal, off-the-record discussions about megatrends and the major issues facing the world' and states that the private nature of the meeting allows participants to 'listen, reflect and gather insights' without being bound by the conventions of office or by pre-agreed public positions.
There is no detailed agenda, no resolutions are proposed, no votes are taken, and no policy statements are issued.
Former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary
Nato General Secretary Jens Stolberg
Those on the guestlist include (left to right) former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (left), Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary and and Nato General Secretary Jens Stolberg
Mr Osborne is the most senior British politician expected to attend the four-day conference, which is due to begin on Thursday.
In a move which will likely raise eyebrows, he will be joined by Mr Balls, the former Labour shadow chancellor who lost his seat in last month’s general election.
Ms Fairhead, who has faced criticism for her links to HSBC since taking over the BBC Trust, is also expected to be in Austria.
Former MI6 chief John Sawers, chairman of Macro Advisory Partners, is listed to attend.
Other Brits listed to attend are Margus Agius, chairman of PA Consulting Group, Ann Dowling, president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Zanny Minto Bedoes, the editor-in-chief of The Economist and Martin Wolf. A columnist from the Financial Times.
Senior figures from around the world include Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the President of Austria Heinz Fischer, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and ministers from Sweden, the US, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Former World Bank President Robert Zoellick, who now chairs an advisory board for Goldman Sachs
HSBC chairman Doug Flint is due to attend
Former World Bank President Robert Zoellick, who now chairs an advisory board for Goldman Sachs, (left) and HSBC chairman Doug Flint (right)
Jim Messina, a former Obama adviser who worked on David Cameron’s election winning campaign in Britain, is also on the list.
Guests also include Thomas Ahrenkiel, director of the Danish Intelligence Service, former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Nato General Secretary Jens Stolberg.
The controversial group met in Watford in 2013, when there were protests outside and a heavy police presence.
Tory MP Ken Clarke, then a Cabinet minister, defended his decision to attend the four-day conference.
He was called to give an emergency statement to the Commons, but dismissed conspiracy theories about the secretive conference as ‘total, utter nonsense’ and questioned why sensible MPs would be ‘taken in by this sort of rubbish’.
WHO IS GOING TO THE BILDERBERG CONFERENCE IN AUSTRIA?
Final list of Participants

Castries, Henri de Chairman and CEO, AXA Group FRA
Achleitner, Paul M. Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Deutsche Bank AG DEU
Agius, Marcus Non-Executive Chairman, PA Consulting Group GBR
Ahrenkiel, Thomas Director, Danish Intelligence Service (DDIS) DNK
Allen, John R. Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, US Department of State USA
Altman, Roger C. Executive Chairman, Evercore USA
Applebaum, Anne Director of Transitions Forum, Legatum Institute POL
Apunen, Matti Director, Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA FIN
Baird, Zoë CEO and President, Markle Foundation USA
Balls, Edward M. Former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer GBR
Balsemão, Francisco Pinto Chairman, Impresa SGPS PRT
Barroso, José M. Durão Former President of the European Commission PRT
Baverez, Nicolas Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP FRA
Benko, René Founder, SIGNA Holding GmbH AUT
Bernabè, Franco Chairman, FB Group SRL ITA
Beurden, Ben van CEO, Royal Dutch Shell plc NLD
Bigorgne, Laurent Director, Institut Montaigne FRA
Boone, Laurence Special Adviser on Financial and Economic Affairs to the President FRA
Botín, Ana P. Chairman, Banco Santander ESP
Brandtzæg, Svein Richard President and CEO, Norsk Hydro ASA NOR
Bronner, Oscar Publisher, Standard Verlagsgesellschaft AUT
Burns, William President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace USA
Calvar, Patrick Director General, DGSI FRA
Castries, Henri de Chairman, Bilderberg Meetings; Chairman and CEO, AXA Group FRA
Cebrián, Juan Luis Executive Chairman, Grupo PRISA ESP
Clark, W. Edmund Retired Executive, TD Bank Group CAN
Coeuré, Benoît Member of the Executive Board, European Central Bank INT
Coyne, Andrew Editor, Editorials and Comment, National Post CAN
Damberg, Mikael L. Minister for Enterprise and Innovation SWE
De Gucht, Karel Former EU Trade Commissioner, State Minister BEL
Dijsselbloem, Jeroen Minister of Finance NLD
Donilon, Thomas E. Former U.S. National Security Advisor; Partner and Vice Chair, O’Melveny & Myers LLP USA
Döpfner, Mathias CEO, Axel Springer SE DEU
Dowling, Ann President, Royal Academy of Engineering GBR
Dugan, Regina Vice President for Engineering, Advanced Technology and Projects, Google USA
Eilertsen, Trine Political Editor, Aftenposten NOR
Eldrup, Merete CEO, TV 2 Danmark A/S DNK
Elkann, John Chairman and CEO, EXOR; Chairman, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles ITA
Enders, Thomas CEO, Airbus Group DEU
Erdoes, Mary CEO, JP Morgan Asset Management USA
Fairhead, Rona Chairman, BBC Trust GBR
Federspiel, Ulrik Executive Vice President, Haldor Topsøe A/S DNK
Feldstein, Martin S. President Emeritus, NBER;  Professor of Economics, Harvard University USA
Ferguson, Niall Professor of History, Harvard University, Gunzberg Center for European Studies USA
Fischer, Heinz Federal President AUT
Flint, Douglas J. Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings plc GBR
Franz, Christoph Chairman of the Board, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd CHE
Fresco, Louise O. President and Chairman Executive Board, Wageningen University and Research Centre NLD
Griffin, Kenneth Founder and CEO, Citadel Investment Group, LLC USA
Gruber, Lilli Executive Editor and Anchor “Otto e mezzo”, La7 TV ITA
Guriev, Sergei Professor of Economics, Sciences Po RUS
Gürkaynak, Gönenç Managing Partner, ELIG Law Firm TUR
Gusenbauer, Alfred Former Chancellor of the Republic of Austria AUT
Halberstadt, Victor Professor of Economics, Leiden University NLD
Hampel, Erich Chairman, UniCredit Bank Austria AG AUT
Hassabis, Demis Vice President of Engineering, Google DeepMind GBR
Hesoun, Wolfgang CEO, Siemens Austria AUT
Hildebrand, Philipp Vice Chairman, BlackRock Inc. CHE
Hoffman, Reid Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, LinkedIn USA
Ischinger, Wolfgang Chairman, Munich Security Conference INT
Jacobs, Kenneth M. Chairman and CEO, Lazard USA
Jäkel, Julia CEO, Gruner + Jahr DEU
Johnson, James A. Chairman, Johnson Capital Partners USA
Juppé, Alain Mayor of Bordeaux, Former Prime Minister FRA
Kaeser, Joe President and CEO, Siemens AG DEU
Karp, Alex CEO, Palantir Technologies USA
Kepel, Gilles University Professor, Sciences Po FRA
Kerr, John Deputy Chairman, Scottish Power GBR
Kesici, Ilhan MP, Turkish Parliament TUR
Kissinger, Henry A. Chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc. USA
Kleinfeld, Klaus Chairman and CEO, Alcoa USA
Knot, Klaas H.W. President, De Nederlandsche Bank NLD
Koç, Mustafa V. Chairman, Koç Holding A.S. TUR
Kogler, Konrad Director General, Directorate General for Public Security AUT
Kravis, Henry R. Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. USA
Kravis, Marie-Josée Senior Fellow and Vice Chair, Hudson Institute USA
Kudelski, André Chairman and CEO, Kudelski Group CHE
Lauk, Kurt President, Globe Capital Partners DEU
Lemne, Carola CEO, The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise SWE
Levey, Stuart Chief Legal Officer, HSBC Holdings plc USA
Leyen, Ursula von der Minister of Defence DEU
Leysen, Thomas Chairman of the Board of Directors, KBC Group BEL
Maher, Shiraz Senior Research Fellow, ICSR, King’s College London GBR
Markus Lassen, Christina Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Security Policy and Stabilisation DNK
Mathews, Jessica T. Distinguished Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace USA
Mattis, James Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University USA
Maudet, Pierre Vice-President of the State Council, Department of Security, Police and the Economy of Geneva CHE
McKay, David I. President and CEO, Royal Bank of Canada CAN
Mert, Nuray Columnist, Professor of Political Science, Istanbul University TUR
Messina, Jim CEO, The Messina Group USA
Michel, Charles Prime Minister BEL
Micklethwait, John Editor-in-Chief, Bloomberg LP USA
Minton Beddoes, Zanny Editor-in-Chief, The Economist GBR
Monti, Mario Senator-for-life; President, Bocconi University ITA
Mörttinen, Leena Executive Director, The Finnish Family Firms Association FIN
Mundie, Craig J. Principal, Mundie & Associates USA
Munroe-Blum, Heather Chairperson, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board CAN
Princess Beatrix Netherlands NLD
O’Leary, Michael CEO, Ryanair Plc IRL
Osborne, George First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Exchequer GBR
Özel, Soli Columnist, Haberturk Newspaper; Senior Lecturer, Kadir Has University TUR
Papalexopoulos, Dimitri Group CEO, Titan Cement Co. GRC
Pégard, Catherine President, Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles FRA
Perle, Richard N. Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute USA
Petraeus, David H. Chairman, KKR Global Institute USA
Pikrammenos, Panagiotis Honorary President of The Hellenic Council of State GRC
Reisman, Heather M. Chair and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc. CAN
Rocca, Gianfelice Chairman, Techint Group ITA
Roiss, Gerhard CEO, OMV Austria AUT
Rubin, Robert E. Co Chair, Council on Foreign Relations; Former Secretary of the Treasury USA
Rutte, Mark Prime Minister NLD
Sadjadpour, Karim Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace USA
Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, Pedro Leader, Partido Socialista Obrero Español PSOE ESP
Sawers, John Chairman and Partner, Macro Advisory Partners GBR
Sayek Böke, Selin Vice President, Republican People’s Party TUR
Schmidt, Eric E. Executive Chairman, Google Inc. USA
Scholten, Rudolf CEO, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG AUT
Senard, Jean-Dominique CEO, Michelin Group FRA
Sevelda, Karl CEO, Raiffeisen Bank International AG AUT
Stoltenberg, Jens Secretary General, NATO INT
Stubb, Alexander Prime Minister FIN
Suder, Katrin Deputy Minister of Defense DEU
Sutherland, Peter D. UN Special Representative; Chairman, Goldman Sachs International IRL
Svanberg, Carl-Henric Chairman, BP plc; Chairman, AB Volvo SWE
Svarva, Olaug CEO, The Government Pension Fund Norway NOR
Thiel, Peter A. President, Thiel Capital USA
Tsoukalis, Loukas President, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy GRC
Üzümcü, Ahmet Director-General, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons INT
Vitorino, António M. Partner, Cuetrecasas, Concalves Pereira, RL PRT
Wallenberg, Jacob Chairman, Investor AB SWE
Weber, Vin Partner, Mercury LLC USA
Wolf, Martin H. Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial Times GBR
Wolfensohn, James D. Chairman and CEO, Wolfensohn and Company USA
Zoellick, Robert B. Chairman, Board of International Advisors, The Goldman Sachs Group USA

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3115748/Guestlist-secretive-Bilderberg-Conference.html#ixzz3cWB18JnJ

NWN:   "In a move which will likely raise eyebrows, he will be joined by Mr Balls, the former Labour shadow chancellor who lost his seat in last month’s general election."  Raise eyebrows ? Both of these attended the last two Bilderberg conferences in Watford and in Copenhagen.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

The story of Bush and Blair's great lie.


A film that reminds us exactly why Bush, Blair, and others in their administrations should stand trial.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/05/story-bush-blair-great-lie-150531071814188.html

Anonymous said...

As evidence mounts that Cameron and his allies have decided there will be a Yes vote to stay in the EU, I smell a cynical stitch-up, writes STEPHEN GLOVER


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3116227/As-evidence-mounts-Cameron-allies-decided-Yes-vote-stay-EU-smell-cynical-stitch-writes-STEPHEN-GLOVER.html#ixzz3cYw78LUx

Anonymous said...

Lenny Henry 'chuffed' at knighthood. "All for farting under bed cover's in advert"


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33060857

Anonymous said...

History’s Cruelest Hoax: Semitic Khazars

“ 97% of Modern 'Jews' are Mongols, Turks and Huns (Khazars)—Only 3% of Jews Have Semitic Blood!”



http://www.veteranstoday.com/2015/04/29/historys-cruelest-hoax-semitic-khazars/

Anonymous said...

Immigrants should be allowed to hit their children because there is a 'different cultural context', says High Court Judge
Mrs Justice Pauffley made comments during ruling in the Family Division
Custody dispute over eight-year-old Indian boy who was slapped by dad
Judge said police and social services should consider family background
'Proper allowance must be made for... a different cultural context' she said


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3117248/Immigrants-allowed-hit-children-different-cultural-context-says-High-Court-Judge.html#ixzz3cbMZ3Wji

Anonymous said...

Israel's deputy speaker suspended after drugs and pimping allegations

Speaker says he hopes Oren Hazan ‘will clear himself of all suspicions’ after report makes claims about his behaviour while running casino in Bulgaria.


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/09/israel-deputy-speaker-oren-hazan-suspended-drug-pimping-allegations

Anonymous said...

Guess How Many Nations In The World Do Not Have A Central Bank?



http://govtslaves.info/guess-how-many-nations-in-the-world-do-not-have-a-central-bank/

Anonymous said...

Obama Free-Trade Authority to Create 'Global Governance Structure'



Read more: http://sputniknews.com/world/20150608/1023100059.html#ixzz3ceLlgyfY

Anonymous said...

A Zionist project to criminalise criticism of Israel.



http://www.redressonline.com/2015/06/a-zionist-project-to-criminalise-criticism-of-israel/

Anonymous said...

Pilot Who Flew The Airplanes That Crashed On 9/11 Blows The Whistle.



http://csglobe.com/pilot-who-flew-the-airplanes-that-crashed-on-911/

Anonymous said...

JANNER AND SCOTLAND'S MAGIC CIRCLE .



http://aanirfan.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-min=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2016-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

Anonymous said...

CONMAN JEREMY CORBYN?



http://aanirfan.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/conman-jeremy-corbyn.html