Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU Commission announced that 35,762 18-year-olds will receive a travel ticket to discover the EU’s diversity.
They will explore its cultural heritage and history and interact with young people throughout Europe. This endeavour is part of DiscoverEU, established in 2018, which presents young travellers the chance to discover Europe alone or in sets of up to five people, especially by train. Travelers in this edition will tour between March 2025 and May 2026.
In his remarks, Glenn Micallef, EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, stated: “DiscoverEU is a life-changing adventure. Every station, every café, and every new face you come across adds to your story. You don’t just notice Europe; you live it. To all the young adventurers with a travel ticket: Take advantage and make the most of this enriching opportunity!”
How does DiscoverEU foster cultural exchange among young Europeans?
Through the Erasmus+ programme, this DiscoverEU application round was available to young people of EU Member nations who will turn 18 in 2024, including those from Erasmus+ Associated nations. Over 135,000 people submitted applications. There is also a learning component to DiscoverEU, with pre-departure training and meetups throughout Europe. According to the European Commission, detailed information on the results, including a factsheet with country-specific statistics, is available on the European Youth Portal.
Since its launch in 2018, DiscoverEU has attracted considerable attention, with more than 1 million applications for approximately 284,000 travel passes awarded over several rounds. The program is part of the Erasmus+ framework, so it can continue to expand its reach and impact on young people’s lives throughout Europe. It promotes environmentally friendly travel behaviour. There is a particular focus on reaching out to young people with fewer opportunities so that more of them can participate in the program.
