EU gave away 36,000 train tickets: So the youth travel through Europe for free!

EU gave away 36,000 train tickets: So the youth travel through Europe for free!

Over 35,000 young Europeans can be happy, because the EU has again awarded free train tickets as part of the DiscoverUr program. Particularly gratifying: 718 participants from Austria can explore the cultures of the continent for up to 30 days. The winners were announced this week and can compete between March 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026. The demand was enormous, because a total of over 135,000 young people from the EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey, took part in this competition. In order to apply, the participants had to be born in 2006 and successfully completed a quiz, as [kosmo.at] reported.

Important details on the application process

The discovery program, which was launched in 2018, enables two application phases every year, one in spring and one in autumn. In April 2024 there were already over 186,000 applications, including 3,452 from Austria, but only 35,511 passes could be awarded. In this current round, the participants also received a discovery youth card that offers additional advantages while traveling. Special features such as the possibility of bringing an accompanying person if you have health problems or disabilities ensure that everyone has the chance to discover Europe, such as [vienna.at]

Glenn MiCallef, EU Commissioner for Generation, Youth, Culture and Sport, summed up the importance of the program: "Discoveru is more than just a travel project. It enables permanent impressions of Europe and its diversity." Interested parties who want to strike next time can continue to find out more on the European youth portal from April 2025 and apply for the next round. So the young discoverers are facing an exciting journey through Europe.