Travellers with Bermudian passports could benefit from visa-free travel throughout Europe if the European Parliament approves new proposals.Government House announced on Friday that Bermudian British Overseas Territories passport holders look set to be given a waiver from the Schengen visa requirement.At present, travellers with a Bermudian passport must apply for visas to enter the 26 countries falling under the Schengen Agreement if they do not have the words UK Right of Abode stamped on their passports.Bermudians who have exercised their right to hold British passports can already travel throughout the Schengen zone freely.The Government House spokesman said: “The European Commission has announced that it has proposed to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union that specific categories of British citizens currently under the Schengen visa obligation be exempted from this requirement in the future.“This does not mean an immediate change for Bermudian British Overseas Territories Citizen passport holders as the proposal must still be approved by both the above bodies before it can be brought into effect.“The UK Government has formally welcomed the Commission proposal to add to the Schengen visa exemption list those categories of British nationals who were excluded from the visa list in 2006 and look forward to the proposal being agreed by the European Parliament and the Council.”There have been a number of calls in the past for Bermuda passports to be accepted in Europe the same way as British passports.In January, 2012, the Government of Bermuda mentioned the topic in a response to a Foreign and Commonwealth Office White Paper on the Overseas Territories (OTs).It noted: “Bermuda and the OTs are continually challenged by the provision entitled Council Regulation (EC) 1932/2006 in the EU Constitution that requires OT (citizens) without UK Right of Abode affixed to their passports, to obtain visas for entry into EU member states (amended December, 2006).“Previously, this policy was not in place and citizens of OT member states were allowed to move freely, without visa restriction, throughout the European territories who are signatories to the Schengen Treaty. The UK Government’s assistance in this matter would be beneficial.”Former Senator Walton Brown said yesterday that he has been lobbying the European Union over the issue for the past 18 months.“This announcement is significant because most Bermudians do not hold a British passport,” he claimed.“It means the vast majority of Bermudians will be able to travel to the EU without a visa requirement. In the past, Bermudians have been turned away from the border, which is very frustrating. The British Government did nothing, so it was raised in the EU by the Bermuda Government.”It is now up to to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union to make a final decision on the Commission proposal.n Have you been adversely affected by the Schengen visa requirement? E-mail news@rg.bm