From this summer, thousands of young people will once again be able to travel across Europe by train for free thanks to the latest call for applications under the DiscoverEU programme. During the European Youth Week with activities, the Commission has launched the latest round of DiscoverEU applications. It will end on Tuesday 30 April at 12:00 Central European Time.
In total, 35,500 travel vouchers are available. To get one, young people born between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2006 can take a questionnaire with five questions about the EU and one additional question on the European Youth Portal. Successful candidates will get a free train pass to travel around Europe for up to 30 days between 1 July 2024 and 30 September 2025.
The call is open to applicants from the European Union and Erasmus+ partner countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. Ticket holders can plan their own itineraries or draw inspiration from existing ones. For example, they can discover a route launched last year, which focuses on cities and places that make the European Union “beautiful, sustainable and inclusive” in line with the principles of the New European Bauhaus.
Participants can also benefit from the DiscoverEU cultural route , an initiative of the European Year of Youth 2022 that combines various cultural destinations, such as architecture, music, fine art, theatre, fashion and design. Participants can visit European Capitals of Culture on the Unesco World Heritage List, European Heritage Label sites or Accessible City Award sites, which are cities that have gone the extra mile to become more accessible for all.
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DiscoverEU is much more than just a ticket. Participants will also receive a discount card with more than 40,000 discount possibilities on public transport, culture, accommodation, food, sport and other services in the eligible countries. In addition, Erasmus+ National Agencies organise pre-departure information meetings, and National Agencies in all Erasmus+ countries prepare DiscoverEU information meetings, learning programmes lasting one to three days.
Social inclusion is one of the main priorities of the Erasmus+ programme, so participants with disabilities or health problems are supported in their travels. Since October 2022, Erasmus+ National Agencies have launched the DiscoverEU Inclusion Action, which allows organisations working with young people with fewer opportunities to apply for a grant. This action provides additional support to participants, such as additional funding and the possibility to travel with accompanying persons. Erasmus+ National Agencies have awarded more than 250 projects since the first call in October 2022, and two calls of the Inclusion Action are ongoing this year.
While DiscoverEU encourages sustainable rail travel, there are special provisions for young people from outermost regions, overseas counties and territories, remote areas and islands.
Background
DiscoverEU was launched by the Commission in June 2018 following a preparatory action by the European Parliament. It is integrated into the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme.
Since 2018, more than 1 million candidates have applied for 284,000 available travel vouchers. According to the latest post-travel survey, 72% of candidates stated that it was the first time they had travelled outside their country of residence by train. For many, it was also the first time they had travelled without parents or adult companions, and most indicated a greater sense of independence. More than two-thirds said they would not have been able to finance their travel voucher without DiscoverEU.
The DiscoverEU experience has given young people a better understanding of other cultures, as well as European history, and has improved their foreign language skills. Participants are invited to become DiscoverEU ambassadors to promote the initiative. The official #DiscoverEUgroup has more than 96,000 members, where young travellers can connect with each other to share experiences and tips.
To participate, candidates will have to fill in a multiple-choice questionnaire on general knowledge of the European Union and other EU initiatives for young people. The Commission will rank candidates on the basis of their answers. The Commission will offer travel vouchers to candidates according to their ranking up to the limit of the tickets available.
More information: European Commission
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