Thousands of young Europeans are set to embark on an exciting opportunity this summer as the European Commission reopens its popular DiscoverEU program.
In this application cycle, a total of 35,500 travel permits are up for grabs. These passes enable individuals aged 18 and above to discover Europe's varied landscapes, cultures, and histories via train, completely free of charge. The application period for this round of DiscoverEU began today and will continue until Tuesday, April 30th.
The invitation extends to individuals from the EU and countries associated with the Erasmus+ program, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey. Ticket holders have the option to chart their own travel paths or follow suggested routes.
For instance, they may opt for a route from the previous year that showcases cities and locations promoting the EU's values of beauty, sustainability, and inclusivity as part of the New European Bauhaus initiative.
Participants also have the opportunity to explore the DiscoverEU Culture Route, introduced during the 2022 European Year of Youth. This route encompasses cultural destinations such as historic sites, music venues, art galleries, theaters, and fashion and design hubs. They can visit European Capitals of Culture, UNESCO World Heritage sites, European Heritage Label locations, or Access City Award cities recognized for their accessibility.
In 2022, Erasmus+, the EU's program for education, training, youth, and sports, supported approximately 26,000 projects. These projects benefited over 73,000 organizations and provided learning experiences to more than 1.2 million students, teachers, trainers, and young individuals.
In addition to providing a travel pass, DiscoverEU offers participants a discount card entitling them to over 40,000 discounts on public transport, cultural activities, accommodation, dining, sports, and more in eligible countries. Before departure, Erasmus+ National Agencies host information sessions, and agencies in Erasmus+ countries arrange DiscoverEU Meet-ups, brief learning events lasting from one to three days.
The European Commission initiated the DiscoverEU program in June 2018. From then until October 2023, over one million young individuals have applied for 248,000 travel passes. The Commission encourages young people to choose sustainable rail travel options.