7月18日，欧盟贸易委员德古赫特在一次演讲中，公开要求成员国同意尽快与日本开启字贸易区谈判。其演讲要点如下：一是与日本达成自贸协定对欧盟经济复苏很有意义。日本是欧盟主要的经济和政治伙伴之一，是欧盟在亚洲的第二大贸易伙伴。欧日均持相同的民主和法治价值观。未来二十年全球经济增长动力来源于亚洲，忽略日本将使欧盟贸易战略犯下大错。打开日本市场将有助于促进欧盟经济增速加快一个百分点，欧对日出口将增加三分之一，为欧盟创造40万个新就业岗位。二是日本必须在打破国内非关税壁垒方面取得突破。如果日本方面的进展不能令人满意，欧日自贸区谈判无法进行。在日本采取实际行动取消包括汽车产业等的有关规制限制之前，欧盟不会降低任何关税。三是推动贸易自由化依然是促进欧盟经济复苏的最佳途径。如果欧盟目前所有讨论的自由贸易区都达成，则欧盟经济总量将增加约２个百分点或2500亿欧元，这相当于整个丹麦或奥地利的经济总量。

July 18,，The eu trade commissioner's ancient Athens in a speech，Called openly for members agreed to open word and Japan as soon as possible trade negotiations。The speech points as follows：One is with Japan, reach the fta to the European Union economic recovery is very meaningful。Japan is the main economic and political one of the partners，The European Union is in Asia's second largest trade partner。The average daily hold the same values of democracy and the rule of law。The next 20 years global economic growth power comes from Asia，Ignore the eu trade strategy to Japan will make a serious mistake。Open the Japanese market will help promote the eu economic growth speed up one percent，Europe, a third of exports will increase，For the eu to create 400000 new jobs。2 it is Japan must break in domestic non-tariff barriers breakthrough。If Japan progress is not satisfying，The day free trade negotiation cannot。In Japan to take real action including automobile industry of cancel relevant regulation before restrictions，The European Union will not reduce any tariff。Three is to promote trade liberalization is to promote the economic recovery is still the best way to the European Union。If the eu at present all discussion of a free trade area，The economy would increase by about 2%, or 250 billion euro，This is equivalent to the entire Denmark or Austria's total economic output。