DiscoverEU: 12,000 additional free tickets available for 18-year-olds to discover Europe

Following the success of the first round of DiscoverEU, the European Commission will launch a second competition for free tickets on 29 November.

All 18-year-olds in the EU will then have until 11 December to apply for a free ticket, giving them the opportunity to travel around Europe between 15 April and 31 October 2019.

The first round of DiscoverEU brought together thousands of young people building a true community across Europe. Participants, who never met before, linked up on social media formed groups to travel from city to city or stayed at each other's places.

Commissioner Tibor Navracsics,responsible for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, said: “This summer, around 15,000 18-year-olds were able to travel across the EU. They experienced first-hand what it feels like to be European. They got the opportunity to discover Europe's diversity and cultural richness as well as to meet people from all over the EU. We have heard so many fantastic stories from those who took part, and I am delighted that we are able to offer this experience to more young people next year!"

Who can apply and how?

• Applicants must be 18 years old on 31 December and be prepared to travel between 15 April and 31 October for a maximum period of 30 days.

• Those interested in taking part need to apply via the

European Youth Portal.

• An evaluation committee will assess the applica

tions and select the recipients.

• Applicants will be notified about the selection results mid-January 2019.

Successful applicants will be able to travel individu- ally or in a group of up to five people. As a general rule they will be travelling by rail. However, to ensure wide access across the continent, participants can also use alternative transport modes, such as buses or ferries, or, exceptionally, planes. This will ensure that young people living in remote areas or on islands part of the EU will also have a chance to take part.

The launch of the second round of DiscoverEU was announced by Commissioner Navracsicsat a stakeholder meeting, in front of representatives working in the youth, education, transport and tourism sectors, and young people who took part in the initiative this summer. The meeting is part of on-going work to make the DiscoverEU experience even more effective and accessible in the future. Organisations such as the European Anti-Poverty Network were also invited to discuss ways in which social inclusion can be improved in future rounds of DiscoverEU.

Based on the overwhelming interest in DiscoverEU and the experience it offers young people across the EU, the European Commission has proposed €700 million for the initiative under the future Erasmus programme in the EU's next long-term budget after 2020. If the European Parliament and the Council agree to the proposal, an additional 1.5 million 18 year olds will be able to travel between 2021 and 2027.

DiscoverEU was launched June, with a budget of €12 million in 2018. So far it has given more than 15,000young people the opportunity to travel around Europe. This year – the European Year of Cultural Heritage – those travelling have also had the chance to participate in the many events taking place in celebration of Europe's cultural heritage.

During the first round which from 9 July to 30 September, some 15,000 young people were awarded travel passes based on a fixed quota per country. Once selected they could travel, either alone or in a group of maximum 5 people, for up to 30 days to at least one EU Member State.