Free interrail for thousands of 18-year-olds

brussels - Twenty to thirty thousand 18-year-olds can explore Europe by train this year with an interrail pass paid by the EU. The European Commission is making 12 million euros available for the 'horizon broadening'.

There will be a campaign to inform young people. To determine who is eligible, a competition may be set up. For example, young people from Cyprus also have money available to take the plane or boat to the mainland. The first participants can pack their bags next summer.

Manfred Weber, the chairman of the EPP, the largest group in the European Parliament, is the driving force behind the interrail plan. He says he continues to put pressure on ensuring that all Europeans who turn eighteen can 'discover our continent'. But money must be found on the EU budget for that.