On a visit to Moscow, Räsänen said that Finland's Interior Ministry needs closer contacts with Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB.

"We don't have this kind of direct channel and it has now been decided to establish one, a clear decision was made," Interior Minister Räsänen told Yle on Friday morning.

Under the agreement reached Thursday between Räsänen and FSB Director Aleksander Bortnikov, a fast timetable is being set up for establishing new channels aimed at the direct exchange of information.

"And, this is needed, most especially in battling organised crime that transcends borders," added Räsänen.

Police, search-and-rescue and frontier guard officials have all been involved in cooperation with their Russian counterparts in the past. The intention now is to raise information exchange to the highest possible level. In part, the move is being made in preparation for the possible introduction of visa-free travel between the EU and Russia.

"In fact, in this matter this cooperation is needed specifically with the FSB so that preparations can be made on both sides," explained Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen.