EU’s £1bn bribe to boost its popularity – free rail passes
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.
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 last night dismissed as bribery by Eurosceptics.
Under the scheme, youngsters would receive a free one-month Interrail pass when they turn 18. The tickets would allow them to travel on railway lines in 30 European countries including scenic routes through the Swiss Alps and along Norwegian fjords.
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 yesterday approved it being added to the agenda.
Mr Weber, a German MEP, claimed that ‘young generations have a key role to play as a counterweight’ 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 wants the European Commission to launch the ‘18th birthday Interrail pass for Europe’ programme ‘as soon as possible’.
One month Interrail tickets currently cost 479 euros (£415). According to EU statistics, around 5.5million people turned 18 last year.
If 50 to 70 per cent of them took up the scheme, it would cost £1.1billion to £1.6billion.
Ukip transport spokesman Jill Seymour MEP said: ‘Young people across Europe would prefer the EU to solve the youth unemployment crisis rather than this blatant attempt at bribery.’
Conservative MEP David Campbell Bannerman said: ‘This shows why Britain needs a highspeed 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. Which parallel universe are they living in?’