Discover Europe by train: The European Commission is once again giving away a total of 35,000 free travel cards for 30 days to 18-year-olds from Europe. Interested parties born in 2004 can apply for the so-called Interrail passes between 11 and 25 October 2022 on the website of the European Youth Portal. So far, around 165,000 young people have received free tickets under the DiscoverEU programme.
Applications are accepted from the 27 EU countries, as well as from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. To obtain an Interrail ticket, applicants must answer quiz questions, among other things.
Travel all over Europe for a month
Individuals or in groups of up to five people, the winners can travel for up to one month between March 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024. In addition, they get discount cards with discounts for accommodation, local transport, cultural institutions and more.
Train journeys are usually paid for, but buses and ferries can also be used. The plane may exceptionally be taken, so that young people living in remote areas or on islands can also participate.
explore continent
The program has been in existence since 2018. It goes back to an activist idea to give every EU citizen an Interrail ticket at the age of 18 to familiarize them with the continent and its cultures.
“Through the ‘DiscoverEU’ programme, young people have the opportunity to have enriching experiences across Europe, travel our continent, continue their education and make new friends,” said Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP). “All of this is probably more important than ever after the years of the pandemic.” Secretary of State for Youth Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) also welcomes the initiative: “We need programs so that Europe is not just a place on the map, but a feeling and part of our own identity like DiscoverEU.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
