DiscoverEU: Commission to Give 60,000 Free Travel Rail Passes to Young Europeans

Photo source: European Union / Photographer: Mauro Bottaro

The European Commission has announced that it will provide free travel rail passes to 60,000 Europeans aged from 18 to 20 years, thanks to the DiscoverEU initiative.

Applications open at 12pm on October 12, and close at 12pm on October 26.

This application round is open to young Europeans born between 1 July 2001 and 31 December 2003. Exceptionally, 19 and 20 year-olds can also apply after their rounds were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The rail passes will be valid for a travel period in 2022, which will be the European Year of Youth.

Successful applicants can travel between March 2022 and February 2023 for up to 30 days. As the evolution of the pandemic remains unknown, all travellers will be offered flexible bookings through a new mobile travel pass. The departure date can be changed right up until the time of departure. The mobile travel passes have a one-year validity.

The Commission advises all travellers to check potential travel restrictions on ReopenEU.

“Over the past 18 months, in a true spirit of solidarity, our young people have sacrificed valuable youthful and defining moments of their lives… This European boom of mobility and opportunities will be further fostered by Erasmus+ and many more initiatives coming for the European Year of Youth in 2022,” Vice-President for the European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas said.

Young people with special needs are strongly encouraged to participate in DiscoverEU. The Commission will put information and tips at their disposal and cover the costs of special assistance, such as an accompanying person, an assistance dog, etc.

Successful applicants can travel alone or in a group of up to five people (all within the eligible age range).

To reinforce sustainable travel – and thereby support the European Green Deal, DiscoverEU participants will predominantly travel by rail. However, to ensure wide access across the EU, participants can also use alternative modes of transport, such as coaches or ferries, or exceptionally, planes. This will ensure that young people living in remote areas or on islands also have a chance to take part.

Every member state is allocated a number of travel passes, based on its population, as a proportion of the overall population of the European Union.