> Annual LIR fees at RIPE are around 2000€

This is a recent 2025 change; we (minimum size ISP) started around 1k, it went to 1.5k in 2023 and 1.8k in 2025.

> and includes trainings and tickets to meetings.

Only one or two (don't remember) tickets are included with the initial becoming a member, none thereafter.

> this seems easily doable.

It's not negligible but not a massive expense either. Even a minimum size ISP is quickly going to be ≥1k€/month on operational expenses. Uplink is the majority for us, location rental & electricity roughly equal at ca. a quarter to third of uplink cost each.