Brussels – There could be a major new development from next summer. 18-year-olds from almost all EU candidate and potential candidate countries may be able to apply for free DiscoverEU travel passes to explore the whole continent by sustainable ways of transport.
As the European Commission revealed, negotiations are ongoing to include six enlargement partners – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine – as well as the United Kingdom and Switzerland in the DiscoverEU programme by 2027, unifying this European experience for the first time.
With North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye already part of DiscoverEU since 2022 – as part of the Erasmus+ programme – almost all enlargement partners will be included in this EU initiative for young people. All except Georgia, which is not included in the current negotiations.
This potential expansion will give more young people the chance to explore the whole continent, offering tens of thousands of 18-year-olds the opportunity each year to learn, share experiences and gain confidence through cultural exchange and independent travel.
Sustainability remains at the heart of the initiative, encouraging more environmentally conscious choices and promoting greener ways of discovering Europe – by train, coach or ferry.
What is the DiscoverEU programme
DiscoverEU is an action of the Erasmus+ programme that, since 2018, has offered 18-year-olds from all 27 EU member states the opportunity to receive a travel pass to explore Europe and travel predominantly by rail.
Six non-EU associated countries – Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye – also joined the initiative in 2022. Negotiations are currently under way to extend participation to a further eight non-EU European countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Eligible young people need to be 18 years old on the first day of the travel period, be a citizen of one of the participating countries – including Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) associated with the EU – and have a valid identity card, passport or residence permit number.
Each participating country is allocated a predetermined number of travel passes. If the number of applicants from a particular country is lower than its allocated quota, the remaining passes are redistributed to countries where demand exceeds the number of passes available.
Successful applicants receive a European Youth Card, which offers a wide range of discounts on cultural visits, learning activities, sports, local transport, accommodation and food. They may travel alone or with up to four friends, provided that all members of the group meet the eligibility criteria.
A trip can last from a minimum of one day to a maximum of one month inclusive, with no more than seven travel days within this one-month period. Travellers can visit as many eligible countries as they wish, but the seven-day rule still applies.
Here is all the information needed to participate in the DiscoverEU programme.
