Brussels, 01/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - In a statement adopted on 28 November, the Lithuanian Parliament complained about restrictions imposed by Latvia on the movement of freight vehicles at the border between the two countries. “Long queues of freight vehicles have recently formed at the Latvian-Lithuanian border”, especially at the border crossing point of Smëlynë, says the statement. “The situation is critical because, since 21 November, the Latvian authorities have reduced passage to the minimum, only allowing two lorries per hour,” said the Lithuanian Permanent Representation to the EU. The result is severe congestion with lorries having to wait sometimes between 3 and 5 days on the Lithuanian side. This is a problem which affects lorries from ten Member States. The reasons put forward by the Latvian government - roads destroyed by heavy rainfall, security needs for the NATO Summit in Riga, a disagreement with Russia - are not “serious”, said the Lithuanian Representation in Brussels, and it continued that, by acting in this way, Latvia was blocking the acquis communautaire, particularly with regard to the free movement of goods. That is why the statement calls on the Latvian government to “take immediate actions to eliminate discrimination against carriers travelling from the territory of the Republic of Lithuania”. The Lithuanian authorities have also sent a letter to Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen, with copies to transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot and Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, calling on them to bring pressure to bear on Riga to resolve this problem. Vilnius could raise the matter at the Justice and Internal Affairs Council on 4-5 December, or the European Council of 14-15 December if the problem has not been settled before then, indicated the Lithuanian Permanent Representation. The statement adopted by the Lithuanian parliament also calls on “the European Parliament and the European Commission for financial assistance in solving the problems relating to the development and improvement of the infrastructure of the external Eastern border of the European Union”. (dt)