The first European vacation
20.7.2015
Question for written answer E-011547-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Claudia Tapardel (S&D)
Young people’s study mobility is a successful initiative, but encouraging mobility for touristic purposes could also have an equally high success and increased efficiency, also as a measure aiming to increase cohesion within the EU: being given the possibility to know other countries and other people at an early age, young people will evolve in the spirit of a positive and tolerant attitude.
We can increase the force of a common European identity by encouraging young people to visit places that are less known in Europe. We can also see this type of European action as an instrument for combating xenophobia — when getting to know other nations it is harder to fall prey to the extremist and xenophobic discourse that, unfortunately, we frequently hear even in the EU’s central institutions.
Given the above:
- 1.Is the Commission considering an EU-funded programme seeking to support young people travelling within Europe?
- 2.Is the Commission considering offering young people with insufficient means the chance to benefit from low-cost vacations in other EU Member States?