DiscoverEU: Moldova’s planned 2027 program explained
During the second Moldova-European Union Summit held in Brussels on June 22, the European Commission announced plans to extend the DiscoverEU program for young people in Moldova starting in 2027. This announcement, welcomed in the summit's joint statement, means that 18-year-old Moldovan teenagers will have the opportunity to obtain a European rail pass and a discount card to explore the continent for the first time.
For now, this remains a political intention rather than an operational decision. The specific methods for how the Republic of Moldova would join a program that has so far been reserved for EU states and a few countries associated with Erasmus+ are yet to be determined.
What is DiscoverEU?
DiscoverEU is an initiative within the Erasmus+ program that was launched in 2018. It provides young people who turn 18 the opportunity to win a travel pass, primarily for train travel, to explore Europe. The main goal is to strengthen young people's sense of belonging to the EU and connect them with other Europeans.
The program has two application rounds each year, in spring and autumn. For the spring 2026 round, the European Commission and the Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) plan to allocate approximately 40,000 passes and a budget of 23.5 million euros. The average value of a pass is estimated at around 260 euros, with higher amounts available to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds or those with special needs.
Who is it aimed at?
The primary eligibility requirement is age. The program is designed for young people who turn 18 during the specified application period. Additionally, candidates must be citizens or residents of an eligible country.
The selection process is competitive and based on national quotas, rather than on a first-come, first-served basis. Candidates are required to answer five questions about the EU, along with a tie-breaking question. The rankings from these answers determine who receives the passes allotted for each country.
Those selected will receive two benefits. First, they are awarded a travel pass, free of charge, valid for second-class travel, mainly by train (with some exceptions for travel by coach, ferry, or plane for those in isolated or island regions).
The travel pass allows for seven travel days, which the beneficiary can choose freely within a one-month period. During these days, participants can take an unlimited number of trains, although in their country of residence, the pass can only be used for two trips—one outbound and one return.
The second benefit is the DiscoverEU discount card (European Youth Card), which provides discounts on accommodation, local transportation, cultural and sports activities, restaurants, and other services in participating countries.
Visa costs, where applicable, will be covered. However, expenses for accommodation, meals, insurance, mandatory seat reservations, or other additional costs are not included and remain the responsibility of the participants.
What does this mean for the Republic of Moldova?
For the Republic of Moldova, this announcement carries significant implications. On one hand, it serves as a symbolic gesture—18-year-olds from Moldova would be treated in this program similarly to their EU counterparts, representing a tangible form of "gradual integration." This aligns with other steps already taken, such as joining the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), eliminating roaming charges, and associating with Creative Europe.
On the other hand, it also acts as a sequencing test. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has linked the expansion of DiscoverEU, targeted for 2027, to the broader goal of Moldova's full participation in Erasmus+, which she suggests could occur as early as 2028. In other words, access to this mobility action would precede full association with the umbrella program, through a closer association that has been announced but not yet formalized.
