Another realisation was that, in order to be effective, the network should have members in all EU countries, and preferably also in European countries outside the Union. Members should be actively involved in the South and membership would be limited to two organisations per country. They come from 13 European countries and are working in more than 90 developing nations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Their combined financial contribution to development actions amounts to more than ECU 400 million. To have members actively involved in the South was seen as fundamental for the advocacy work of Eurostep.
Policies have to be founded on the experience of the members together with their Southern partners.
Another important feature is the economic independence of the network. Eurostep is run on annual membership fees, divided into three categories according to the member agency's yearly income. Because it is not funded by the EC or any other institution, the network is free to pursue objectives which might not always be in line with official policy. Each year the General Assembly reviews Eurostep's programme and sets the priorities for the following year. Eurostep concentrates on a limited number of issues.