Italy says 'postponed' EU jobs summit to go ahead on October 8

(ROME) - A special EU jobs summit will go ahead in Milan on October 8, the Italian government said Thursday, after diplomats earlier said the event had been "postponed indefinitely".

"The European Union gathering, at the level of heads of state and government, on the theme of employment... will be held on October 8," read a statement released by the prime minister's office.

The meeting, to boost jobs and jump-start the bloc's sluggish economy, had been called by French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi amid growing concerns about how to increase growth in Europe.

EU leaders agreed to go ahead with the special employment summit when they met in Brussels at the end of August. It is set to be the first in a series of such meetings during the autumn.

But an EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Wednesday that Italy, which currently holds the EU's six-month rotating presidency, had "communicated to the member states that the summit has been postponed 'sine die'".

A second European source confirmed the delay, putting it down to calendar issues.

In Paris, a French government spokesman also said the postponement was due to "issues of timing".

Thursday's statement by the Italian government did not specify whether the event was ever officially cancelled.

Jobs and growth have been named as priorities for the incoming European Commission of Jean-Claude Juncker, which will rule the roost in Brussels for the next five years.

Unemployment in several member states remains at record levels, particularly amongst the young, with many blaming austerity policies implemented to meet the EU's strict rules on deficits and public debt.