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European Commission - Press release Commission offers 40,000 DiscoverEU free travel passes to young people Brussels, 8 April 2026 Today, the European Commission opens applications for a new DiscoverEU round, offering thousands of young people aged 18 the chance to explore Europe by train and for free. The call opens today at 12:00 CET and closes on 22 April 2026 at 12:00 CET, leading up to the launch of the European ...
European Commission - Press release Commission offers 40,000 DiscoverEU free travel passes to young people Brussels, 8 April 2026 Today, the European Commission opens applications for a new DiscoverEU round, offering thousands of young people aged 18 the chance to explore Europe by train and for free. The call opens today at 12:00 CET and closes on 22 April 2026 at 12:00 CET, leading up to the launch of the European Youth Week 2026 . A total of 40,000 travel passes are available. Winners will be able to board the train for up to 30 days between 1 July 2026 and 30 September 2027. Young people born between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008 can apply by completing a quiz with five questions about the EU and one additional question on the European Youth Portal. The Commission will offer travel passes to applicants following their ranking, up to the limit of available tickets. The call is open to applicants from the European Union and countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye. Ticket holders can plan their own routes or be inspired by suggested ones, such as the DiscoverEU Culture Route , which combines various cultural destinations with a focus on architecture, music, fine art, theatre, fashion and design. In addition to the travel pass, participants will receive a discount card with tens of thousands of discounts on public transport, culture, accommodation, food, sports and other services in eligible countries. They can also access pre-departure information meetings and DiscoverEU Meet-ups , where participants can meet fellow travellers and get a deeper knowledge of the EU. DiscoverEU provides participants with disabilities, health conditions or from low socio-economic backgrounds with additional support. This may include the possibility to travel with accompanying persons, or access to extra funding via the DiscoverEU Inclusion Action . While DiscoverEU encourages sustainable travel by rail , special arrangements are available for young people from islands, outermost regions, overseas countries and territories, remote areas. Background The Commission launched DiscoverEU in June 2018 at the European Parliament's request. The initiative has given young people a better understanding of other cultures and European history, and improved their foreign language skills. It is part of the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 . Since 2018, more than 1.9 million candidates have applied for 431,931 available travel passes. In the latest post-travel survey, 72% of participants declared it to have been their first time travelling out of their country of residence by train. Over two-thirds said that they would not have been able to finance their travel pass without DiscoverEU. Participants are invited to become DiscoverEU Ambassadors and join the # DiscoverEU Official group to share experiences and tips. For more information DiscoverEU European Youth Portal IP/26/783 Quote(s): "DiscoverEU allows young people to experience Europe by rail, discovering new cultures and gaining a deeper understanding of our shared values. For many, this is also their first opportunity to travel independently and connect with people from all over Europe. This application round is coming just ahead of the European Youth Week 2026, where young people will also be able to explore EU opportunities and policies including DiscoverEU. This year’s edition is dedicated to solidarity and fairness." Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport - 08/04/2026 Press contacts: Anna-Kaisa ITKONEN (+32 2 29 57501) Eirini ZARKADOULA (+32 2 29 57065) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
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