FAIB ... be international - in Belgium !

SCOPE AND PURPOSES
The FAIB is a non-profit making, non-political association with the following purposes:
1 — To study, promote and defend the collective and material interests of its members without interfering in their activities. The Federation acts for its members with third parties, inter alia with public or private bodies, to take up matters of general concern.
2 — To secure through collective action any measure aiming at facilitating its members' activities.
3 — To obtain any measure and to take or promote any initiative furthering the establishment and permanence of international associations in Belgium.
4 — To assist its members in the organisation of their activities, inter alia by creating joint study groups, by arranging for administrative and ancillary facilities, meeting rooms and equipment etc.
WHO ARE THE MEMBERS?
FAIB members are permanent associations institutes or organisations with a truly international, non-profit structure, purpose and activity.
The members of FAIB are organisations of European or universal scope; the membership includes trade or business federations, cultural and scientific societies, youth and sport associations, religious and philanthropic societies, etc.
STRUCTURE
The Federation is ruled by a General Assembly, directed by a Board of Directors and financed chiefly by members' fees.
ORIGIN
The FAIB was established in 1949 at the initiative of leading personalities of the Union of International Associations (UIA) with a view to drawing the attention of the authorities to the existence of international associations in Belgium and to the need for facilitating their activities.
The Federation has been chaired by great statesmen: Paul van Zeeland, Albert Lilar and Pierre Harmel, who were anxious to further and develop international activities in Belgium.
ACHIEVEMENTS
The FAIB has a record of great achievements for the benefit of international associations, viz.:
- The amendment (in December 1954) of the Law of October 1919 on International Scientific Associations. The Law now also covers philanthropic, religious, artistic, and pedagogical international associations. Belgium grants specific legal status to international non-governmental associations.
- A handbook <<Guide pratique a l'usage des organisations internationales établies en Belgique>> has been published. This handbook is updated from time to time and provides all information required for drafting terms of reference, on taxation, labour legislation, etc. as well as information on Belgian authorities, European agencies and so on.
- The International Association Centre, a project long promoted by the FAIB, came into being with the collaboration of the Belgian Government in 1983. The Centre is located at 40, rue Washington, 1050 Brussels, and has an extension at 1, rue Defacqz. It houses the secretariat of several international associations, provides all facilities necessary for conventions, lectures and other meetings and makes its offices, equipment and services available to members of the Federation on a temporary basis.
ACTIVITIES
Regular or occasional activities of FAIB include:
- studies of general and specific legal and tax problems, inquiries into the activities of the International Associations;
- working luncheons and lectures with contributions by experts on matters of common concern: taxation, computers, convention management, etc.;
- establishing international contacts and maintaining permanent relations with federations of international associations in other countries;
- publishing a quarterly information bulletin: FAIB NEWS.