DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 02 October 2024
Commission to distribute 35,500 free DiscoverEU travel passes to young people
Starting next spring, thousands of 18-year-olds will have the opportunity to explore Europe at no cost. The Commission has just opened the applications for the latest round of the DiscoverEU initiative.
A total of 35,500 travel passes are available. To qualify, young people born between 1 January and 31 December 2006 must first answer a quiz consisting of five questions about the EU, along with an additional question on the European Youth Portal. Candidates will be ranked based on their responses and travel passes will be distributed based on this ranking. The call is open to young people from the European Union and countries associated to the Erasmus+ programme including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Türkiye. The call is open until 16 October at 12:00 CET.
Successful applicants will have the opportunity to travel across Europe for up to 30 days between 1 March 2025 and 31 May 2026. They can either plan their own routes, or be inspired by existing ones such as the “Feel Good Route” which focuses on physical and mental health while travelling. Participants can also get inspiration from the DiscoverEU Culture Route, an initiative of the 2022 European Year of Youth that connects various cultural destinations with a focus on architecture, music, fine art, theatre, fashion and design. They can visit the European Capitals of Culture, sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, European Heritage Label sites or Access City Award label locations, which are cities focusing their efforts on becoming more accessible for people with disabilities.
In addition to the free travel pass, participants will also receive a discount card with over 40,000 deals on public transport, culture, accommodation, food, sport and other services. Additionally, Erasmus+ National Agencies organise pre-departure information meetings and DiscoverEU Meet-ups, learning programmes lasting from one to three days.
Special support is available for participants with disabilities or health conditions, in line with the Erasmus+ programme's focus on social inclusion. The DiscoverEU Inclusion Action enables organisations working with young people with fewer opportunities to apply for grants, providing additional support to participants such as extra funding and the option to travel with accompanying persons. While DiscoverEU encourages sustainable travel by rail, special arrangements are available for young people from outermost regions, Overseas Counties and Territories, remote areas and islands.
Background
The Commission launched DiscoverEU in June 2018 following a preparatory action from the European Parliament. It is now integrated into the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027.
Since 2018, more than 1.3 million candidates have applied for 319,000 available travel passes. When asked about their experiences, 93% of respondents say that they are planning to travel more often by train following their experience with DiscoverEU. For many, it was the first time they travelled without parents or accompanying adults, and a majority said they felt an increased sense of independence. Over two-thirds said that they would not have been able to finance their travel pass without DiscoverEU.
The DiscoverEU experience has given young people a better understanding of European cultures and history, while improving their language skills. Participants are invited to become DiscoverEU Ambassadors to champion the initiative. The #DiscoverEU Official Facebook group, where young travellers can connect and share experiences and tips, currently has more than 102,000 members.
For More Information
DiscoverEU
European Youth Portal
Quote(s)
DiscoverEU is an incredible opportunity for young people to broaden their horizons, experience Europe's rich diversity and build connections across borders. By offering these free travel passes, we are fostering a deeper understanding of European cultures, values and history. I encourage all 18-year-olds to take advantage of this action under the Erasmus+ programme!
Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
Commission sends requests for information to YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok on recommender systems under the Digital Services Act
Today, the Commission has sent a request for information to YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok under the Digital Services Act (DSA), asking the platforms to provide more information on the design and functioning of their recommender systems. Under the DSA, platforms have to assess and adequately mitigate risks stemming from their recommender systems, including risks for the mental health of users and the dissemination of harmful content arising from the engagement-based design of these algorithms.
YouTube and Snapchat are requested to provide detailed information on the parameters used by their algorithms to recommend content to users, as well as their role in amplifying certain systemic risks, including those related to the electoral process and civic discourse, users' mental well-being (e.g. addictive behaviour and content ‘rabbit holes'), and the protection of minors. The questions also concern the platforms' measures to mitigate the potential influence of their recommender systems on the spread of illegal content, such as promoting illegal drugs and hate speech.
TikTok has been requested to provide more information on the measures it adopted to avoid the manipulation of the service by malicious actors and to mitigate risks related to elections, pluralism of media, and civic discourse, which may be amplified by certain recommender systems.
YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok must provide the requested information by 15 November. Based on the assessment of the replies, the Commission will assess the next steps. This could entail the formal opening of proceedings pursuant to Article 66 of the DSA.
Pursuant to Article 74 (2) of the DSA, the Commission can impose fines for incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in response to RFIs. In case of failure to reply, the Commission may issue a formal request by decision. In this case, failure to reply by the deadline could lead to the imposition of periodic penalty payments.
The Commission has focused on the compliance with the DSA provisions related to recommender systems since the DSA entered into force. Among other things, recommender systems are a core part of the formal non-compliance proceedings opened against TikTok, AliExpress, Facebook and Instagram.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel.: + 32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat — Tel.: + 32 2 298 04 85)
Vice-President Schinas and Commissioner Johansson participate in the G7 Interior Ministerial meeting in Italy
From today to Friday, 4th October, the Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, and the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, will be in Mirabella Eclano (Avellino), Italy, to participate in the G7 interior Ministers' Meeting on behalf of the European Union.
Together with the Ministers for Home Affairs and Security, as well as senior officials from G7 countries, the Vice-President and the Commissioner will participate in the panel meetings on the following topics: threats from international crisis situations including the security threats stemming from Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine; cybersecurity and virtual assets; synthetic drugs; artificial intelligence, as well as migration, with a particular focus on migrant smuggling.
In the margins of the Ministerial, Commissioner Johansson, together with the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic Leblanc, is due to sign an agreement for the transfer of passenger name records (PNR) data. This agreement aims to strengthen the EU's security by allowing to safely share the data of passenger by carriers operating passenger flights between the EU and Canada.
Vice-President Schinas and Commissioner Johansson will deliver statements on Thursday morning that will be transmitted on EbS.
(For more information: Anitta Hipper - Tel.: + 32 229 85691; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 229 13173)
CALENDAR
Monday 30 September
Ms Stella Kyriakides receives representatives of the Health Committee of the Danish Parliament.
Tuesday 01 October
Ms Stella Kyriakides participates in the Parliament Magazine Flagship Health Summit 2024.
Thursday 03 October
Mr Margaritis Schinas in Mirabella Eclano, Italy (until 04/10): participates in the G7 Minister's meeting on Interior.
Friday 04 October
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Nicosia, Cyprus (until 05/10): delivers a lecture at Frederick University on the European Health Union.
Saturday 05 October
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Nicosia, Cyprus: participates in the Pink Silhouette Walk organised by Europa Donna Cyprus.
The European Commission is committed to personal data protection. Any personal data is processed in line with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. All personal information processed by the Directorate-General for Communication / European Commission Representations is treated accordingly. If you do not work for a media organisation, you are welcome to contact the EU through Europe Direct in writing or by calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11.
Athanasios ATHANASIOU
Press Officer / Political Reporter
European Commission
Representation in Cyprus
EU House, 30 Vyronos Avenue, 1096 Nicosia
Tel: +357 22 81 75 76 Mob: +357 99 363753
Twitter: @aathans