EU 30 000 people will be given free train tickets
The European Commission (EC) has earned €12 million in the 2018 budget to provide 20 000 to 30 000 young people who celebrate their 18 th birthday, free InterRail tickets. The special ticket allows its owner to travel around Europe on almost any train, reports Deutsche Welle.
According to the budget description, the initiative aims to “enable young Europeans to explore Europe and, more importantly, to better connect new people with European identity and to raise awareness of THE fundamental values OF THE EU.”
While there are other eu-wide youth exchange programmes, the InterRail project describes that free tickets will be received by young people not covered by such programmes. This will be done to give them the opportunity to familiarise themselves with other European cultures during their journey, as described in the description.
“It is important that we offer all our young people the opportunity to expand their vision through other countries,” said THE EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Tibor Navrachich. “Education is not just what we are learning in the class but also what we find out about other European cultures and traditions.”
All eu citizens born in 2000 will be entitled to receive a free ticket this year, including young people in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Maltā and Cyprus, which are currently not part of the InterRail network.
Young people who receive tickets will be encouraged to travel through special routes “so they can actually see Europe (which will include less popular destinations)”, mentioned in the document.
The exact number of 18-year-olds who will receive tickets as well as the exact type of InterRail tickets to be distributed should still be determined. THE EC should also provide other aspects of action, including a publicity campaign aimed at European values and identity.
Similar projects will continue in 2019 and 2020.
It is estimated that more than €1 billion is needed to provide every EU citizen who will reach 18 years of age with a free InterRail ticket.
Source: www.diena.lv