(TALLINN) - If the European Union and Russia want to work closer, they could start by looking at the plight of truck drivers who sometimes spend days waiting to get across the European border into Russia.

At Narva, an Estonian border town on the main highway to Saint Petersburg, around 200 trucks were waiting in line on Thursday, the eve of a major EU-Russia summit which agreed to revive stalled talks on a partnership accord.

While Europe-Russia trade is said to be booming, officials in Narva said the truckers could expect to wait almost three days to get across the frontier.

Finland and the former Soviet Baltic states are crucial conduits for road trade to and from Russia. But the drivers have struggled with the knock-on effect of increasing traffic and what they call sluggish customs service on the Russian side.

In Finland, jams at the Vaalimaa border post have stretched 50 kilometres (30 miles) in recent days and the truckers have had to wait in line for 48 hours.

Finnish authorities fear the line of trucks -- most of which are Russian-registered -- could reach a record 100 kilometres (60 miles).

Over the summer in Latvia, the queue at the main Terehova crossing regularly topped 1,700 trucks. Only about 400 vehicles were able to cross each day.

Latvian authorities also fear the queues will grow in November, as transporters step up deliveries for Christmas and the New Year.

Finnish authorities blame the delays on Russian red tape and poorly-managed border guard and customs services, a position echoed by Estonia.

"Russian customs procedures are not organised as effectively as they should be, and this could be regarded as the main reason for the long queues," said a senior Estonian official.

"It would be normal for trucks to wait in line, but for not more than a couple of hours," the official said.

Estonian authorities note that the lines have also grown as Russian customs officers try to do a more thorough job.

Estonian and Latvian officials have called for the introduction of electronic customs declarations which could be sent in advance by drivers before they reach the customs zone.

The Latvian and Russian governments announced this year that they aim to increase the number and capacity of border posts in an effort to smooth road trade.

But the drivers are becoming exasperated by the jams.

In Latvia, truckers staged several protests this summer, blocking highways with their lorries, and have threatened more demonstrations.

Residents near the border posts are also fed up with the truck noise, litter and human waste.

Latvia, Estonia and Finland are planning to build new parking areas to help cope with the boom, while Finland says it wants to expand the main Helsinki- Saint Petersburg highway.

Text and Picture Copyright 2007 AFP. All other Copyright 2007 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.