The European Union is celebrating 40 years of the Schengen Agreement by offering 40,000 free train tickets to young travellers through the DiscoverEU initiative. This program allows 18-year-olds to explore Europe by train, discovering its cultures, people, and places without the hassle of border checks.
The Schengen area, established in 1985, now includes 29 countries: 25 EU Member States and 4 non-EU countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein). This agreement has enabled 450 million people to travel without passport control for work, study, and tourism, promoting freedom of movement, economic growth, and secure borders.
To commemorate this milestone, the EU is encouraging young travellers to share their border-crossing moments on Instagram using special anniversary Giphys. The DiscoverEU program provides an opportunity for young people to experience the benefits of the Schengen area firsthand, fostering cultural exchange and understanding among European nations.
