Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 22h

🏡 On this first ever #WorldVacantHomesDay, we highlight one of the biggest contradictions of our time: too many homes without people, too many people without homes.

🇪🇺 EU countries must prioritise renovating & reallocating vacant houses for social housing.

There is no place like home.
Yet too many of them are vacant.

It’s not only a housing crisis, it’s also a vacant homes crisis.” The graphic shows bar charts comparing the national percentage of vacant homes (yellow bars) and the percentage of vacant homes in capital cities (dark green bars) across several European countries. The countries shown are the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain. A line marks 50% on the y-axis. Source: Housing Europe Observatory, 2023. Note: Data from countries with available comparable data.

19 36

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 6d

The European Green Party strongly condemns that Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid destined for Gaza.

Read more from @vulatsetsi.bsky.social & @ciarancuffe.bsky.social
➡️ europeangreens.eu/news/europea...

1 18 47

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 6d

🚨The Global Sumud Flottilla has been intercepted in international waters🚨
The peaceful activists onboard, including our MEP Benedetta Scuderi, were carrying food and baby formula for those being starved.
The Israeli govt MUST be held accountable for the violence and ongoing genocide🇵🇸
t.co/WWb3TwnNqQ

2 2

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 8d

Thank you to N1 for having me on the show! What matters the most is amplifying the voice of people expressing concerns about the lack of democracy and police violence in Serbia

n1info.rs/english/news...

European Greens co-chair on EPP investigation: No place for government that treats its citizens like SNS does

Commenting on the internal scrutiny process concerning the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) within the European People’s Party (EPP), Co-chair of the Euro

n1info.rs

1 5

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 11d

Greens & progressives can become the largest democratic political force the Dutch elections!

We wish all candidates the best of luck for the elections on the 29 October. Especially @esmahlahlah.bsky.social & @jesseklaver.groenlinkspvda.nl who are number 2 & 3 on the list.

1 4 33

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 14d

“An indignity entirely of the EU’s own making"

Today, the EU shamefully ignores the UN deadline to present climate targets.
What a dangerous, irresponsible precedent to set.
Climate change is already here. The EU must show up to #COP30 with ambitious targets.

www.politico.eu/article/euro...

2 8

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 15d

The majority of EU member states now recognise the state of Palestine. An important step, but recognition alone will not stop the genocide.
We will keep saying it until it becomes reality: we need sanctions, arms embargo and to suspend of the EU–Israel Association Agreement. Now!

(📷 Le Monde)

2 4

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 21d

It's dangerous and frankly embarrassing that the EU could miss the UN deadline for submitting climate goals. Remember last week when @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu said 'we must stay the course on our climate and environmental goals'? We need ambitious climate targets, now!

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 21d

Europe can’t afford to go from climate trailblazer to climate bystander.

Ten years after the Paris agreement & after a summer filled with floods, fires and deadly heatwaves, it’s time to step up: ahead of COP30, we need ambitious, clear climate targets for 2035, 2040 and beyond.

1 4

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 21d

We continue to condemn police brutality and unlawful arrests in Serbia.
Solidarity with Bogdan Jovičić, on day 7 of a hunger strike and month 2 of his detention after protesting in Novi Sad. The EU must make clear that repression and rights violations are incompatible with Serbia's EU path!

3 7

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 21d

EU member states must recognise the state of Palestine.

There are 142 out of 193 UN members who now call for international recognition.

We can’t have a two-state solution without two official states.

Countries that recognise Palestine
Middle East: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, etc.
Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Kenya, etc.
Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, etc.
Latin America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, etc.
Europe: Sweden, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Norway.

Countries that plan to recognise Palestine (announced for 2025)
France
Malta
Luxembourg
Canada
Australia
Portugal
UK

6 25 77

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 22d

The UN officially classified the situation in Gaza as a genocide.

At the same time, Israel keeps bombing and forcing the Palestinians out of what is left of their homes.

We need the EU to act, stronger sanctions are needed immediately.

This must end.

1 11 46

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 22d

A UN commission of inquiry has ruled: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

And in the face of a genocide - inaction is complicity.

The EU has a responsibility to act:

🇵🇸Full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement
🇵🇸Full weapons embargo and sanctions
🇵🇸Recognise the state of Palestine

2 18 36

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 26d

I am relieved that my colleague Dmitry Kuchuk was released from prison in Belarus yesterday, with 51 others.

Together with @liberecophr.bsky.social l, I became Dmitry's political godparent.

However, over 1000 remain behind bars, and Europe must not ease up the pressure on Lukashenko's regime

statement on white background, Text reads:

I am beyond relieved that my Green colleague, former leader of the dissolved Belarusian Green Party, Dmitry Kuchuk, was released from prison yesterday along with 51 other political prisoners. Through human rights NGO Libereco, I became poltical godparent to Dmitry during his time in prison.

Dmitry was detained in Minsk on 16 February 2024 while laying flowers in memory of Alexey Navalny, and arrested on unsubstantiated charges.

Whilst we celebrate his release, it must be known that Dmitry and the other prisoners have been forcibly expelled to Lithuania, and many were stripped of their passports, documents, and personal belongings.

“This cannot be seen as an act of humanism or a sign of ‘democratisation’ by Lukashenka,” said Dmitry Kuchuk.
“It is simply the trading of people, the bargaining of hostages in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. People are being used as bargaining chips.”

Two members of the Board of the dissolved Belarusian Green Party remained behind bars for political reasons without official recognition or formal charges. They are amongst more than 1,000 recognised political prisoners remain in Belarus.

This release must not legitimize the Lukashenka regime. We continue to call on the European community to act to ensure the freedom of all political prisoners.

Photo of former leader of the dissolved Belarusian Green Party, Dmitry Kuchuk. He wears a Blue suit and white shirt, and is smiling.

2 7

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 28d

President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu must act with political coherence.

The EU must stand with Ukraine, Gaza, and Serbia, invest boldly in the Green Deal, stop teaming up with the far right, and defend EU values everywhere.

Full reaction: europeangreens.eu/news/eu-at-a...

#soteu2025

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 28d

Response of @vulatsetsi.bsky.social & @ciarancuffe.bsky.social (Co-Chairs of the European Green Party) to President von der Leyen’s 5th State of the Union speech:
europeangreens.eu/news/eu-at-a...

1 1

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 28d

Response of @vulatsetsi.bsky.social & @ciarancuffe.bsky.social (Co-Chairs of the European Green Party) to President von der Leyen’s 5th State of the Union speech:
europeangreens.eu/news/eu-at-a...

4 14

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 29d

The people of Serbia deserve justice and the full support of the EU.

Together with @greens-efa.eu we are pushing the European Institutions to take action.

We will not be silenced by threats and insults.
We stand strong in support of the people of Serbia.

4 21

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 28d

Today, Russian drones violated Polish airspace.

This is a shocking violation of EU sovereignty & shows that our eastern border states are especially vulnerable to Russian aggression.

We must stand strong & united against attacks from Russia.

Our full solidarity is with Poland.

5 33

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 29d

Serbia's President Vučić has been escalating his violent repression of Serbia’s people.

It's high time that Manfred Weber and the EPP admit that they have an autocrat within their ranks, and hold him to account.

Serbia belongs in the EU.

3 10

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · 29d

The people of Serbia have been under attack for years.

Vučić’s regime is oppressing not only the people protesting but also the media and all political forces that stands against him.

Video: co-chair @vulatsetsi.bsky.social & committee member @rasmusnordqvist.bsky.social MEP from @greens-efa.eu
.

5 26

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · 29d

The people of Serbia have known for a long time that Vučić is an autocrat, and so have we and our member party ZLF.

It’s about time Manfred Weber and @eppgroup.bsky.social are
finally acknowledging the problem, and are 'starting a scrutiny process’. We @europeangreens.eu will hold him to his word!

2 7

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · Sep 8

Vučić calling us 'European Scum' will not deter us.

We reiterate our call for the European Commission, the European Parliament, and Council to address the situation in Serbia.

We are bringing this fight to the European Parliament.
We stand with the people of Serbia.

1 9 25

Vula Tsetsi @vulatsetsi.bsky.social · Sep 6

Vučić’s threats will not deter us! 🇷🇸

What we witnessed yesterday is the authoritarianism that Serbian citizens face daily. Our solidarity is with them, their courage in defending democracy deserves support, not hostility.

Full statement: t.co/eBcEv0ADW3

4 15

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · Sep 5

"The situation in Serbia cannot be treated as business as usual.
The EU must firmly demand an end to violence against civilians and journalists, and insist on early, free, and fair elections.”

- @vulatsetsi.bsky.social, our co-chair

1 10

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · Sep 5

We are with the students of Serbia who stand for democracy, against autocracy and police repression.

Twice university officials have let police in to remove the students, twice freedom of expression has been curtailed.

🌻 @vulatsetsi.bsky.social @rasmusnordqvist.bsky.social

7 26

Reposted by Vula Tsetsi

European Greens @europeangreens.eu · Sep 2

🌻Congrats to @zackpolanski.bsky.social i on being elected new leader of @greenparty.org.uk.

Under Zack's leadership, @greenparty.org.uk will continue to represent marginalised voices & our environment.

💚Thank you to the outgoing leaders @carladenyer.bsky.social & @adrianramsay.bsky.social

congratulations
to Zack Polanski

Green Party of England & Wales
New leadership

21 55