About: Gabi Zimmer
European left plans to take over the social democrats in EU elections
The Party of the European Left vows to be “the only alternative” to the conservatives and “the real alternative” to the far-right, according to a draft manifesto seen by EURACTIV.com; However, the fragmentation in the leftist family creates barriers.
Juncker seeks support from Parliament’s pro-Europeans
The end of the grand coalition has pushed Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to increase his efforts at seducing the European Parliament’s pro-European leftist groups. EURACTIV France reports.
MEPs vote to ratify Paris Agreement
The European Parliament today (4 October) voted to ratify the Paris Agreement, ensuring it will come into force before this year’s COP 22 in Marrakesh. EURACTIV France reports. InfographicPromoted content
![INFOGRAPHIC: Who is who in the European Parliament? [Version 2.0]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/11/parliament-2014-2019-112014-en-v02.png)
INFOGRAPHIC: Who is who in the European Parliament? [Version 2.0]
After a first plenary session and a series committee meetings in early July 2014, key positions were distributed in the European Parliament. The European Parliament’s 22 committees held their first meeting on Monday (7 July). On the agenda was the election of committee chairs and vice-chairs. The week before, MEPs gathered for the Parliament's first plenary session in Strasbourg, and elected a president, vice-presidents and quaestors. They also appointed the leader(s) of their faction. The final leading positions were settled after one Vice-President, Corina Cretu, was selected to take up a Commissioner role in Jean-Claude Juncker's EU executive team. Find an overview of the Parliament's key faces for 2014-2019 in our infographic.
Russia counts on EU ‘friends’ to avert further sanctions
Russia has stepped up its efforts to consolidate ties with governments and forces in EU countries sympathetic to Moscow, for historic or economic reasons, or both. The EURACTIV network reports.![The Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 7 seats in the European Parliament after European elections on 25 May. [Caruso Pinguin/Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/05/13973798240-f905379581-b.jpeg)
German left blames CDU for populist surge
The Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party celebrated after sending their first MEPs to to the European Parliament yesterday (25 May), triggering a blame game between leftists and conservatives over who should bear responsibility. EURACTIV Germany reports.![Gabi Zimmer is the top candidate for Germany's Left Party (Die Linke) in the 2014 European elections. [Gabi Zimmer]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/05/parteien-gabi-zimmer_0.jpeg)
German Left Party: ‘Eurosceptic AfD is our political opponent’
Germany's Left Party (Die Linke) calls for EU-wide referenda, criticises austerity policy and denounces bailouts for banks, sparking claims of significant overlap with the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD). The Left Party rejects these allegations. EURACTIV Germany reports.![Less Europe and more Merkel: MEP Rainer Wieland from Germany's Christian Democratic Union explains the party's European election strategy. [EP]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/04/wieland_ep_0.jpeg)