Abbott wants to move quickly on EU FTA

Tony Abbott has added the European Union to the list of free-trade agreements he wants to secure.

The prime minister said his talks with visiting French president Francois Hollande on Wednesday focused on trade and he hopes Australia can swiftly begin negotiations for a free trade agreement with the European Union.

"I've had a great deal of support from European leaders, including Francois, for this objective," Mr Abbott told a joint press conference in Canberra.

Aside from securing FTAs with Japan and Korea earlier this year, Mr Abbott concluded a trade deal with China on Monday and announced his intent for an agreement with India by the end of next year on Tuesday.

He also wants to move quickly on an European FTA, noting that Canada some years to get its deal done.

"But I think right around the world now there's a determination to move here," Mr Abbott said, adding the best discussions at the G20 last weekend were on trade and the need for freer trade at every level.

"Everyone wants to get these things done more quickly because all of us appreciate that trade means jobs, trade means prosperity, trade ultimately means security."

President Hollande said it was very important to be able to trade freely with Australia because it would also allow access into Asia as well.

"It's very important for Australia also to be more present in Europe in all those markets and in particular third party markets and I'm thinking here of Africa, for instance," he said.