This Tuesday, as part of the latest call for tenders of the Discover EU program, the European Commission opened the acceptance of applications for one of the 35,500 free rail cards for young Europeans aged 18 and from non-EU countries to travel across Europe.
On the occasion of the European Youth Week, which takes place on April 12th to 19thThe European Commission has launched the final round of applications, which closes on Tuesday, April 30th at 12:00 p.m.
The young people born in between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006 You can take part in a general knowledge quiz about the European Union (EU) and initiatives for young people. The Commission offers tickets according to the qualifications acquired, up to the limit of available tickets.
Those selected will receive a free train card allowing them to travel across Europe for up to 30 days between July 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025.
In addition to young people from the European Union, countries associated with the Erasmus+ program, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey, can apply.
As the Commission states in its statement, participants will receive a card “More than 40,000 discount opportunities” on public transport, culture, accommodation, diets and other services.
In addition, it was noted that participants with health problems or disabilities will receive support during their travels.
The DiscoverEU program, It was launched in June 2028 and is integrated into the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 program and offers 18-year-olds the opportunity to travel across Europe primarily by train, although there are also exceptions for those who live on islands or remote areas.
The Commission recalled that Since 2018, more than a million candidates have applied for nearly 284,000 available tickets and, according to the latest Post-Travel survey, 72% of candidates said it was the first time they had traveled by train outside their country of residence.
The Commission suggested young people explore some of the existing tourist routes across Europe, such as the Bauhaus New Europe route, the DiscoverEU cultural route, the European Capitals of Culture or the places with the European Heritage Label.
