Pass for Travelling - EU distributes train passes for youngsters once more.
Thousands of young Europeans will have the chance to explore Europe for free courtesy of the EU with free train tickets from July. As announced by the European Commission in Brussels, 35,511 lucky teens from EU countries will be awarded Travel Passes in the recent "DiscoverEU" travel program.
This program has been held twice a year since 2018, resulting in over 180,000 applicants in this round alone. Aspiring travelers had to answer 6 questions about the EU through an online quiz to be eligible for their free ticket.
The EU Commissioner in charge of youth affairs, Iliana Ivanova, deemed this application round the most successful since 2021. With their Travel Pass, the lucky recipients can adventure throughout Europe between July 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025, for up to 30 days.
Eligible countries include EU members, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey. Those with disabilities or health issues can expect support during their journeys, as stated by the Commission. Applicants need to be at least 18 years old on the first day of their travel period.
The "DiscoverEU" initiative dates back to 2018 and is based on an idea by European activists. Their wish was to gift a free Interrail ticket to every EU citizen upon turning 18, with the intention of helping them better understand the continent. Over 1.4 million young people have applied for a ticket since the program's inception, according to the Commission. If you're keen on taking advantage of this opportunity, be patient; the next round is scheduled for the fall.
