Brussels, 18/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament Conference of Presidents has decided to set up a 'contract group for relations with Northern Cyprus' (the Turkish-speaking side of the island), in response to 'the pressing need to strengthen relations with the community in the northern part of the island after the accession of the Republic of Cyprus,' explains a European Parliament press release. The aim is to contribute to the definition of a modus operandi for the Parliament with regards to the Cypriot community in the north 'until such time as the question of reunification of the island has been resolved','. The contact group will 'monitor the implementation of the financial and trade measures proposed by the Commission in July 2004 after the failed referendum on reunification of Cyprus.' The contact group held its first meeting on Monday evening, 16 January. It is made up Françoise Grossetête (PPE-DE, France) who will chair the group, Mechtild Rothe (PES, Germany), Karin Resetarits (unaligned MEP from Austria), Cem Özdemir (Greens/EFA, Germany), Francis Wurtz (GUE/NGL, France), Georgios Karatzaferis (IND/DEM, Greece), Seán Ó Neachtain (UEN, Ireland) and Ryszard Czarnecki (unaligned MEP from Poland).