# #EuropeanCommission in the news

October 1, 2026 at 01:13 PM

> EU Offers 41,000 Free Train Passes to Youth · Austrian Food Prices 24% Higher Than in Germany · Austria Reviews €67 Billion Procurement Spending

[EU Offers 41,000 Free Train Passes to Youth](<https://austriareport.com/article/eu-offers-41-000-free-train-passes-to-youth-8c820b23>)
*October 1, 2026 at 01:13 PM* - The European Commission opens DiscoverEU applications for 18-year-olds to win travel passes across 36 countries starting March 2027.

[Austrian Food Prices 24% Higher Than in Germany](<https://austriareport.com/article/austrian-food-prices-24-higher-than-in-germany-cfa858ec>)
*September 5, 2026 at 12:40 PM* - A foodwatch Austria study reveals significant price gaps for domestic brands, prompting a petition and a European Commission inquiry.

[Austria Reviews €67 Billion Procurement Spending](<https://austriareport.com/article/austria-reviews-67-billion-procurement-spending-c4aaeee2>)
*August 26, 2026 at 10:57 AM* - Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer outlines state spending trends as the EU shifts procurement rules to favor local industrial growth.