The European Commission is launching a new call for proposals for the DiscoverEU initiative, which offers young people the opportunity to explore Europe by train.
Young people born in 2006 can apply until October 16, 2024 to win one of 35.500 free travel tickets. 709 tickets are reserved for Austria. The winners can use these to travel around Europe for up to 2025 days between March 2026 and May 30.
DiscoverEU, part of the Erasmus+ programme, enables young people from EU countries and other participating countries such as Norway, Serbia and Iceland to discover Europe and its cultural treasures. Special offers such as the DiscoverEU cultural route take participants to UNESCO World Heritage sites and barrier-free cities.
In addition to the travel ticket, participants receive a discount card that offers benefits for public transport, accommodation and cultural activities. Young people with disabilities and health problems are particularly encouraged and receive special support.
Since DiscoverEU was launched in 2018, 319.000 tickets have been issued. The initiative aims to promote intercultural understanding and encourage young people to use trains more often as a sustainable means of transport.