DiscoverEU: More than 14,500 Young People to Explore Europe

More than 14,500 young people have been selected from almost 80,000 applications to receive a DiscoverEU travel pass for the initiative’s second round.

According to an announcement, participants will be able to travel between April 15, and October 31, 2019, for up to 30 days.

DiscoverEU is an informal travel experience for young individuals or small groups. It gives 18-year-olds a chance to learn about European cultural heritage and diversity, connect with other young people and explore their European identity.

The European Commission’s initiative was launched in June, with a budget of €12 million for 2018, and €16 million for 2019.

The second round attracted applications from almost 80,000 18-year-olds from all EU member states during a two-week period that closed on December 11, 2018. A total of 14,536 young Europeans were selected based on the award criteria and taking into account the quota set for each EU member state.

“In total, almost 180,000 young people from all over Europe have applied during the two rounds in 2018; and thanks to this initiative, we will have so far given around 30,000 young people the chance to explore Europe’s cultures and traditions and connect with other travelers, as well as the communities they are visiting,” said Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, responsible for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.

The winners will be able to travel, alone or in groups of maximum five people by rail, with alternative modes of transport used in exceptional cases. The young travelers will also receive pre-departure guidance and information on special opportunities available to them, for example price reductions on entry tickets for museums or cultural sites, participation in learning activities or welcome events organized by locals in the cities they will visit.

The Commission is planning to launch the next application round in summer 2019.