14,500 young people get free EU travel passes
More than 14,500 18-year-olds have been selected from almost 80,000 applications to receive a DiscoverEU travel pass, the EU initiative giving young people the opportunity to travel around Europe.
The second round of the European Commission's DiscoverEU initiative attracted applications from almost 80,000 young people from all EU Member States during a two-week period that closed on 11 December last year. 14,536 young Europeans were selected based on the award criteria and taking into account the quota set for each EU Member State.
"It is wonderful to see how young Europeans are using DiscoverEU to get to know their continent," said Education and Youth Commissioner Tibor Navracsics: "In total, almost 180,000 young people from all over Europe have applied during the two rounds in 2018; and thanks to this initiative, we will have so far given around 30,000 young people the chance to explore Europe's cultures and traditions and connect with other travellers, as well as the communities they are visiting."
The winners of the second round will now be contacted so that they can book their trips. They will be able to travel, alone or in groups of maximum five people, between 15 April and 31 October for up to 30 days. Most of them will travel by rail with alternative modes of transport used in exceptional cases.
As well as the travel pass, the young people will receive predeparture guidance, and they will be able to get in touch with each other on social media. They will also be informed of special opportunities available to them, for example price reductions on entry tickets for museums or cultural sites, participation in learning activities or welcome events organised by locals in the cities they will visit.
DiscoverEU is an informal travel experience for young individuals or small groups, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, which is accessible and simple. It gives 18-year-olds a chance to learn about European cultural heritage and diversity, to connect with other young people and to explore their European identity.