Interrail pass for all 18-year-olds — the EPP Group Chairman's proposal

28.9.2016

Question for written answer E-007214-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Arne Gericke (ECR)

During his speech in response to the State of the Union address in September in Strasbourg, the EPP Group Chairman in Parliament made the seemingly spontaneous proposal that all young people should be given an Interrail pass as an 18th-birthday present so that they can experience Europe. According to press reports, both the European Council and Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc have responded positively to the proposal.

1. Was the EPP Group Chairman’s proposal to the Commission really a spur-of-the-moment idea, or had it already been discussed or agreed on with the Commission in advance?

2. Does the Commission consider that such an expensive project — it would, after all, cost between EUR 1.5 and 3 billion — is covered by the powers it has under the Treaties — evidently priority powers in fact — and, if it does, would the administrative effort be proportionate and could it be coped with?

3. Should the Commission regard such an ‘Interrail18 for all’ or ‘Weber ticket’ as a doable proposition within its powers, what about — to counter population trends — a possible welcome payment of EUR 500 for every new born child, which would cost about the same as the Interrail idea?