site.btaDiscoverEU: 621 Bulgarian Youths Receive Free Railway Travel in Europe

More than 40,000 18-year-olds, including 621 from Bulgaria, are getting the chance to travel for free by train across Europe as part of the European Commission's (EC) DiscoverEU initiative. The autumn application round was open to young people born between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2007, from EU member states and countries associated with Erasmus+. A total of 246,782 applicants took part, the EC said here on Wednesday. 

Young people will have the opportunity to travel for free for up to 30 days between March 1, 2026, and May 31, 2027. In addition to the travel pass, participants will also receive a discount card offering reductions on cultural activities, accommodation, local transport, and food. The program includes pre-departure information sessions and DiscoverEU Meet ups. One of these meetings will be organized in Lyon in July in the context of European Youth Week 2026, with a focus on solidarity and justice. 

DiscoverEU is part of the Erasmus+ program and promotes youth mobility, eco-friendly travel, cultural exchange, and European unity. Since 2018, over 1.9 million young people have applied for 431,931 travel passes. DiscoverEU will also contribute to the Cultural Compass for Europe by promoting DiscoverEU cultural routes - European destinations selected for lovers of cinema, fashion, food, and visual arts.