FINE
Encyclopedia
FINE was created in 1998 and is an informal association of the four main fair trade
networks:
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 rotates between 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
.
work:
FINE members further agreed to define fair trade
's strategic intent as:
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
networks:
- F Fairtrade Labelling Organizations InternationalFairtrade Labelling Organizations InternationalFairtrade International was established in 1997, and is an association of 3 producer networks, 19 national labelling initiatives and 3 marketing organizations that promote and market the Fairtrade Certification Mark in their countries Fairtrade labelling organizations exist in 18 European...
(FLO) - I International Fair Trade Association, now the World Fair Trade OrganizationWorld Fair Trade OrganizationThe World Fair Trade Organization , formerly the International Fair Trade Association , was created in 1989 and is a global association of 324 organizations in over 70 countries...
(WFTO) - N Network of European WorldshopsNetwork of European WorldshopsThe Network of European Worldshops was established in 1994 and coordinates the cooperation between Worldshops in Europe. It is a network of national associations of Worldshops representing 2,500 shops in 13 member countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,...
(NEWS!) and - E European Fair Trade AssociationEuropean Fair Trade AssociationThe European Fair Trade Association is a Dutch association established informally in 1987. It gained formal status in 1990. It regroups 11 fair trade importers in 9 European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. EFTA members...
(EFTA)
Aims and goals
The aim of FINE is to enable these networks and their members to cooperate on:- the development of harmonized core standards and guidelines for fair trade,
- harmonization, and increase in the quality and efficiency of fair trade monitoring systems,
- advocacy and campaigning work, harmonization 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 rotates between members. Decisions are taken by the boards of the FINE members.
Since April 2004 FINE runs a fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
advocacy office in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. Its role is to coordinate the advocacy activities of fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
proponents at both the European and the international levels. The aim of the office is to step up public support for fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
and to speak out for trade justice
Trade justice
Trade justice is a campaign by non-governmental organisations lobbying for changes to the rules and practices of world trade so that poor people and the environment benefit...
.
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
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
'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) Fair Trade in Europe 2005: Facts and Figures on Fair Trade in 25 European countries. Brussels: Fair Trade Advocacy Office
- FINE (2006). Business Unusual. Brussels: Fair Trade Advocacy Office