60,950 young people will receive a free travel pass to explore European destinations as part of the European Commission’s DiscoverEU program.
The Commission will provide free travel rail passes to 60,000 Europeans aged from 18 to 20 years. Following the latest round of applications launched in October 2021, successful applicants will travel alone or in a group of up to five people between March 2022 and February 2023 for up to 30 days.
In line with the Green Deal, participants will travel mainly by rail, with some exceptions to allow those living on islands to take part.
Vice-President for the European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas said, “The boom of mobility for young people that represents these 60,000 travel passes offers great opportunities for young people to get pass these difficult times. 2022 starts off to a flying start. This will be the year of young Europeans”.
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, said, “What a good way to start the European Year of Youth with the announcement of the results for DiscoverEU! We want this year to be a celebration of all young people. We will multiply opportunities for them throughout the year, for example by increasing the number of tickets for DiscoverEU in the next round that will take place in spring 2022.”
The October application round was open to young Europeans born between 1 July 2001 and 31 December 2003. Exceptionally, 19 and 20 year-olds could also apply after their rounds were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the evolution of the pandemic remains unknown, all travelers will be offered flexible bookings through a new mobile travel pass.
Since June 2018, the program funded 130,000 travel passes. The next application round will take place in spring 2022.
