Background information

In June 2026, the newly appointed Danish government announced in its government platform that children and young people under the age of 22 should be entitled to free public transport. The proposal forms part of a broader strategy to make mobility more affordable, reduce transport-related living costs and improve access to education, employment and leisure activities for young people. While the measure is not directly linked to the increase in energy prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it can be seen as part of the government's wider response to rising living costs and transport expenses. At the time of reporting, the proposal had not yet been adopted and further negotiations are required before implementation.

Content of measure

The proposal would provide free access to public transport, including buses and trains, for children and young people under the age of 22 throughout Denmark. The objective is to reduce the financial barriers associated with transport, improve mobility and facilitate access to education, employment, social activities and public services. The measure is intended to apply nationwide and target all eligible young people regardless of income or employment status. At the time of reporting, the measure remains a policy proposal and has not yet been implemented. The measure forms part of broader efforts to improve accessibility and mobility opportunities for children and young people.

Use of measure

As the measure has not yet been implemented, no information is available on actual uptake or effectiveness. However, experiences from Fredericia Municipality, where local buses are free of charge, indicate substantial increases in public transport use following the removal of fares. The proposal is expected to benefit young people by reducing transport costs and improving access to education, work and leisure activities.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Other groups of citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

At the time of reporting, no information was available regarding formal social partner involvement in the design of the measure. The proposal forms part of the newly adopted government platform and has not yet been translated into legislation. It therefore remains unclear whether employers’ organisations and trade unions will be formally consulted during the legislative process. No evidence was identified regarding social partner involvement in the implementation, monitoring or evaluation of the proposed measure.

Views and reactions

No public statements from employers’ organisations or trade unions regarding the proposal were identified at the time of reporting. However, other stakeholder organisations have expressed views on the measure. The Danish Youth Council (DUF) welcomed the proposal, arguing that transport costs can constitute a barrier to young people’s participation in education, employment, voluntary activities and social life. In contrast, representatives of the Danish Cyclists’ Federation raised concerns that free public transport could lead to a shift from cycling to public transport among young people. According to the federation, previous experiences suggest that fare-free public transport tends to attract more cyclists than car users, potentially resulting in lower levels of physical activity and adverse health effects. The federation therefore argued that the proposal should be accompanied by measures to promote cycling among young people.

Sources

• 03 June 2026: TV2Kosmopol.dk (www.tv2kosmopol.dk)
• 08 June 2026: DR.dk (www.dr.dk)