Young people residing in Erasmus+ nations can apply for one of the 35,000 free travel passes granted by the EU Commission ending April 21.
The European Commission announced that DiscoverEU, which allows 18-year-olds to travel around Europe primarily by train, is accepting applications for the first time in 2022.
According to the Commission, this year’s round will mark DiscoverEU’s introduction into Erasmus+, and young people from Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey will be able to apply for the passes for the first time.
In a press statement announcing the commencement of the application period, the Commission states: “With this change and through the exceptional funding under the European Year of Youth 2022, 70,000 travel passes will be made available in 2022: 35,000 in the application round announced today and another 35,000 in an application round foreseen for October.”
It also adds that applicants who have completed the selection question and were born between July 1, 2003, and June 30, 2004, are eligible to enter. Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, the winners will have the opportunity to travel throughout Europe for up to 30 days.
Margaritis Schinas, the EU Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, said that individuals who turn 18 in the second half of the year will be allowed to apply for free passes in the October round.
the Vice-President said: “DiscoverEU gives more opportunities to travel to young people than ever before. With the European Year of Youth, we celebrate youth. We owe this to an entire generation that could not travel for the last two years. Good luck to all.”
Erasmus+ National Agencies will organise meetings and information meetings to prepare new travellers for their trip and to build a learning experience with colleagues, in order to enhance the learning part of the DiscoverEU experience.
The Commission has also stated that through these sessions, DiscoverEU hopes to stimulate discussions on sustainability, culture, and European identity.
Participants with impairments or medical issues will also be able to accompany them on their tour.
By encouraging sustainable rail travel, the Commission also provides allowances for people who have trouble getting to continental Europe to begin their journey. Special preparations have been made for young people from more remote regions, counties and foreign territories, isolated places, and islands to make this possible.
– India’s new age travel digital media
