Free rail pass idea ‘bribery’ – EU-sceptics

LONDON: Every teenager in Europe will get a free rail ticket to go backpacking around the continent on their 18th birthday in a desperate scheme to win support for the EU.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have dreamt up the plan that could cost billions of pounds a year to promote a sense of belonging in Europe – but it was this week dismissed as bribery by Eurosceptics.

The tickets would allow them to travel on railway lines in 30 European countries.

Proponents have called for the giveaway to begin as soon as possible, meaning Britain could face picking up the tab while still an EU member.

And MEPs will vote next week on proposals drawn up by Manfred Weber, leader of the EPP, which is the largest group in the European Parliament, after the other parties on Thursday approved it being added to the agenda.

Weber, a German MEP, claimed that younger generations had a key role to play as a counter-weight’ to rising Euroscepticism.

“The EU has to give them the means to discover who their neighbours are and what opportunities another member state can bring to any single European,” he said.

He has asked the European Commission to launch the 18th birthday Interrail pass for Europe programme as soon as possible. It would give anyone living in the EU a free ticket as soon as they became an adult.

Those from member states that are not part of Interrail (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus and Malta) would be given bus and ferry tickets so they could join in.

One month Interrail tickets currently cost 479 (R7 400).

Ukip’s transport spokeswoman Jill Seymour MEP said: “Young people across Europe would prefer for the EU to solve the chronic youth unemployment crisis rather than this blatant attempt at bribery.”

Conservative MEP David Campbell Bannerman said: “This shows why Britain needs a high-speed non-stopping train out of the EU. Interrail tickets are a great way to see Europe at reasonable cost, but this EU loyalty card giveaway is complete nonsense.

“Travelling around Europe you see very clearly how the EU’s euro-straightjacket impoverishes European nations.

“This is an example of fiddling while the EU’s empire burns. It is a huge waste of money and irrelevant to the terrible economic problems now facing the Eurozone.

“European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker earlier this month announced plans for the creation of a 100 000-strong civilian corps of young people to react to emergencies inside the bloc such as the migrant crisis.

“Young people across the EU will be able to volunteer their help where it is needed most, to respond to crisis situations, like the refugee crisis or the recent earthquakes in Italy.

“I want this European Solidarity Corps up and running by the end of the year.

“And by 2020, to see the first 100 000 young Europeans taking part.

“By voluntarily joining the European Solidarity Corps, these young people will be able to develop their skills and get not only work but also invaluable human experience.”