FINE

FINE was created in 1998 and is an informal association of the four main Fair Trade networks:
*F Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO)
*I International Fair Trade Association (IFAT)
*N Network of European Worldshops (NEWS!) and
*E European Fair Trade Association (EFTA)

Aims and goals

The aim of FINE is to enable these networks and their members to cooperate on:
* the development of harmonised core standards and guidelines for Fair Trade
* harmonisation, and increase in the quality and efficiency of Fair Trade monitoring systems
* advocacy and campaigning work
* harmonisation of their information and communication systems

FINE is an informal working group. It has no formal structure and no decision-making power.Meetings are held as required. Preparation, hosting and facilitation of the meetings rotatesbetween members. Decisions are taken by the boards of the FINE members.

Since April 2004 FINE runs a Fair Trade Advocacy Office in Brussels. Its role is to coordinate the advocacy activities of Fair Trade proponents at both the European and the international levels. The aim of the office is to step up public support for Fair Trade and to speak out for trade justice.

Definition of Fair Trade

In 2001, FINE members agreed the following definition of Fair Trade, on which to base theirwork:

FINE members further agreed to define Fair Trade’s strategic intent as:
* deliberately to work with marginalised producers and workers in order to help them move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency
* to empower producers and workers as stakeholders in their own organisations
* actively to play a wider role in the global arena to achieve greater equity in international trade.

FINE Publications

* FINE. (2005) [http://www.ifat.org/downloads/marketing/FairTradeinEurope2005.pdf Fair Trade in Europe 2005: Facts and Figures on Fair Trade in 25 European countries] . Brussels: Fair Trade Advocacy Office
* FINE (2006). [http://www.ifat.org/current/busunusual.shtml Business Unusual] . Brussels: Fair Trade Advocacy Office

ee also

External links

* [http://www.fairtrade.net Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO)]
* [http://www.ifat.org International Fair Trade Association (IFAT)]
* [http://www.worldshops.org Network European Worldshops (NEWS!)]
* [http://www.eftafairtrade.org European Fair Trade Association (EFTA)]