“One week left to apply for free EU travel pass”

MEP Nina Carberry has called on young people across the county to apply for a free EU travel pass

The competition, which is being run through the Erasmus+ scheme, will allow successful ticket holders to travel for free across Europe between July 2026 and September 2027, while also receiving discounts for accommodation, food, sports and cultural events across 36 European countries.

A total of 40,000 travel passes are available.

The competition is open to those born between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008.

The call opened ahead of European Youth Week and the closing date to apply is 22 April 2026.

Speaking in Brussels this week, MEP Carberry said:

“This is a wonderful chance for those turning 18 to get the opportunity to travel across the continent, develop a better understanding of other cultures and European history, and get a chance to improve their language skills.”

MEP Carberry, who is a member of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee recently spoken about the need to protect financing for Erasmus+ into the future, as negotiations are ongoing on the next long term EU budget.

To apply for the travel pass competition, young people must complete a short quiz about the EU through the European Youth Portal, where the full details of the competition can be found.