Thousands of young Romanians have the chance to travel for free in Europe through the DiscoverEU program. What are the conditions that need to be met?

The applicants only need to answer a few general knowledge questions. Since the program's launch, nearly 10,000 Romanians have explored Europe.

Bianca traveled alone across Europe in May. She initially went to Germany for a concert and decided to visit two more countries.

Bianca Petrencic, "DiscoverEU" program beneficiary: "I went to Prague after the concert, where I spent a day. I walked around 20-something kilometers, and in the evening, I headed to the next country, to Budapest, where I stayed for a day before returning to Bucharest in the evening. It was all very spontaneous because along the way, I decided I wanted to add two more countries to my list, and I didn't really have time to look for accommodation".

Valeria returned from her vacation a week ago. She traveled with another young person she met through this program, and she tells us that besides the wonderful experience, she gained a friend.

Valeria Stihi, "DiscoverEU" program beneficiary: "I went to Spain, then to the south of France, then to Strasbourg and finally reached Luxembourg. After Luxembourg, I traveled through the Netherlands, passing through Belgium, and eventually reached Berlin. I can say that I matured a lot. It helped me learn that I can stand on my own two feet".

Cosmin is delighted that he was able to visit so many cities.

Cosmin Mîndru, "DiscoverEU" program beneficiary: "I never thought that I could be so independent and self-reliant until then. For example, I lost my luggage in Amsterdam, but somehow, I found it, and all I can say is that I learned to fend for myself".

Now it's the turn of other young people to discover Europe through a train journey. In total, the European Commission will provide 36,000 free travel passes. To be accepted into this program, young people must be 18 years old, meaning they must be born between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2005.

Those wishing to get a travel pass must register on the European Youth Portal and correctly answer five questions, along with one additional question that will make the difference.

Anca Pădurau, Spokesperson at the Representation of the European Commission in Bucharest: "It's an experience that can improve their linguistic skills and help them discover more about themselves as individuals. Additionally, we have discount cards that offer over 40,000 discounts for accommodation, various types of transport, and overall, it's a unique experience".

The registration round is open to candidates from the European Union and other countries participating in the Erasmus Plus program. The European Commission is offering 1,500 free travel passes to young people in Romania.

Selected candidates will be able to travel in Europe for up to 30 days between March 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025. Since the launch of this program, 9,700 young Romanians have traveled for free by train across Europe.