New call for 35,000 free rail passes for youngsters to discover Europe will open on 11 October

For the second time this year, 35,000 young people will receive a rail pass to explore Europe and its rich culture. The call is open to applicants from Erasmus+ programme countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. To try to win a travel pass, young people can apply on the European Youth Portal, where they will have to answer five quiz questions and a subsidiary one.

Applicants who have successfully filled in the selection quiz and who are born between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2004, will be able to travel in Europe for up to 30 days during the travel period 1 March 2023 and 29 February 2024.

Those turning 18 in the first half of next year will be able to apply in the March 2023 round.

With this second round this year, thanks to the increased budget in the frame of the European Year of Youth, a total of 70,000 travel passes will have been made available in 2022. Recipients will additionally continue to benefit from a discount card with more than 40,000 discount possibilities on public transport, culture, accommodation, food, sports and other services available in eligible countries. They will also be able to join DiscoverEU meet-ups, an initiative launched in the summer 2022 consisting in an exciting one to three day cultural programme across all Erasmus+ countries.

Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, said:

“For the second time this year, DiscoverEU will offer an enriching experience to 35,000 young people, enabling them to travel the continent, discover new cultures, build new friendships. Promoting cultural exchanges through sustainable travel could not be more relevant than it is today. I wish the best of luck to all applicants.”