Eleven left-leaning EU political parties are to collaborate in forming a pan-national party known as the “European Left”.

Lothar Bisky, head of the German leftist Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS), concluding a two-day conference in Berlin said groups would work to improve social welfare and fight against militarism, gender inequality and ecological devastation.

Fausto Bertinotti, chairman of the Italian communist party PRC said: “We aim to create a new Europe. The Europe of the Party of the European Left is against war and neo-liberal policies.”

The conference produced a manifesto for the embryonic organisation. It was signed by groups from Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Spain.

A founding congress is set to take place in April, ahead of EU parliamentary elections.