Get ready for a free trip across Europe

The European Commission is giving away free Interrail passes to 18-year-olds across the European Union.

According to the European Youth Portal, nearly 50,000 young people have received a travel pass and the opportunity to explore their home continent since the beginning of the DiscoverEU program in June 2018.

In a statement, Tibor Navracsics, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, stated that the selected applicants "experienced first-hand what it feels like to be European. They got the opportunity to discover Europe's diversity and cultural richness as well as to meet people from all over the EU."

Applicants must be 18 years of age and European Union citizens. The application involves a short quiz and a follow-up question, and selected applicants are allowed to travel for 1 day at a minimum and 30 days at a maximum.

The pass will cover all train travel expenses, and the website indicates that in special cases ferry, bus and occasionally air travel will also be covered for those living in remote areas.

There are two rounds of applications, and the next round is set to begin sometime in November 2019.

The goal is to give young EU citizens the chance to see the diversity of Europe, build connections with young people across the European Union, and strengthen their European identity.

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