MEPs of the EU have proposed a plan which will give every teenager in EU, on his or her 18th birthday, a free rail ticket travel across the continent. Under this scheme, a free one month Interrail pass will be given to youngsters on turning 18. The scheme gives them a chance to travel across 30 European countries on railway lines.
The MEPs will, in the coming days, vote on the proposal which was drawn up by the leader of the EPP, Manfred Weber, with other parties approving it to be added in the agenda. Mr.Weber is a MEP from Germany, belonging to the largest group in the European Parliament, who claimed that young generations have a major role to counter rising Euroscepticism. Proponents want the giveaway to start as quickly as possible, possibly with Britain still an EU member. Mr. Weber has requested the EC to launch the programme as soon as possible.
Those youngsters from member states that are not part of Interrail will be provided ferry and bus tickets to join in. David Campbell Bannerman the Tory MEP, said these free tickets of Interrail are a great way to see Europe at reasonable cost, but did not approve of the freebie scheme. The plan that would cost billions of Euros yearly to promote ‘a sense of belonging in Europe’ were criticised by Eurosceptics, citing other important issues remain unsolved, such as the economic problems facing the Eurozone now.
