Brussels is bestowing a once-only opportunity for fewer than 2,000 British 18-year-olds: “a travel pass to discover Europe” between July and September this year.

The European Commission has tweeted that it will select 15,000 “enthusiastic young people” and award them free tickets similar to InterRail passes for the summer. It is asking: “Are you 18 years old? Would you like to explore Europe? Then you are the perfect candidate to apply for a new European Union initiative to be officially launched shortly.”

The announcement says: “Travelling is a chance for young people to take advantage of our freedom of movement, to discover the diversity of Europe, enjoy its cultural richness, and make new friends from all over the continent.

“Ultimately, it’s also a great opportunity to discover yourself.”

The travel pass is intended to be used mainly for railways, but buses or ferries will also be allowed when appropriate.

“In exceptional cases and when no other transport means are available, travel by plane will be permitted,” says the European Commission.

“Accommodation, subsistence or other expenses related to the trip shall be covered by the participants.”

Tickets will be handed out to each EU member state in proportion to population, which means just over 1,900 British citizens aged 18 should qualify.

There are around 715,000 18-year-olds in the UK, which means that only one in 372 of the cohort will qualify.

The application process will be revealed on the European Youth Portal Facebook page and Twitter feed.

Final selection will involve an online quiz about Europe, which is not expected to be unduly taxing for anyone familiar with Google.

Many details are still unclear, such as whether the individual’s choice of destinations will affect their chance of winning.

It is impossible to put a precise value on the ticket, because it will depend on the chose destinations.

The restriction of four countries means that nations on the fringes of the EU, such as the UK and Ireland, will have very limited choice; it would not be possible to reach, for example, Slovenia or Slovakia, let alone Greece or Cyprus.

The scheme is a watered-down version of a proposal to give every young person in Europe a free InterRail pass on their 18th birthday, first mooted in 2016.

With the UK scheduled to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, this summer will be the only opportunity for British travellers to benefit.