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AFP Unveils Detailed €12–14 Million Cost-Cutting Plan

The agency detailed measures to trim expatriation budgets, incentivize retirements, secure external funding, refocus its field reporting to shore up finances

Overview

  • CEO Fabrice Fries presented measures on July 10–11 aimed at saving €12–14 million over 2025–26 through headcount reductions and expatriation cost cuts.
  • The upcoming retirement incentive program is set to launch this autumn and targets 50 to 70 non-replacements to yield €4–5 million in annual savings.
  • By late 2025, the agency will examine transforming 141 headquarter and 134 regional expatriate contracts into local agreements to trim €3 million from its budget.
  • Staff representatives at the board estimate that the 2026 phase will require roughly €7 million in external financing via state-backed loans or debt restructuring.
  • In parallel, AFP will refocus its editorial strategy on breaking news and bolster field journalism supported by an expanded global source network.