The former Soviet republic of Estonia expects a border agreement with Russia to be signed before the EU-Russia summit early next month, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said Friday.

"There are no concrete arrangements yet but we hope the border agreement will be signed by the time the EU-Russia summit begins in Moscow on May 10," Paet told a press conference.

"Estonia is ready to sign today," he said.

Visiting EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said that, from the EU's point of view, the sooner the agreement is signed, the better.

"I'd be happy to witness the signing of your and the Latvian agreement with Russia (on May 10)," Solana said. "It is possible on May 10 but there are no guarantees."

Estonia and Latvia joined the EU last year. The two countries' borders with Russia form part of the eastern frontier of the European bloc.

The two Baltic states, which were both occupied by the Soviet Union for five decades, have for years been trying to conclude border agreements with Moscow, but say the signing of the pacts has been stalled by the Kremlin.

On Thursday, Solana said in the Latvian capital that the signing of the border treaty would benefit the entire EU.

"It would be a positive event for your country as well as for the EU", Solana told reporters in Riga, adding that he hoped the treaty would be signed at the EU-Russia summit.

"Relations with the countries on the EU border are very important," said Solana.

"We hope to have a good relationship with the neighbours as it helps the whole structure of the EU".