The Contact Group includes four of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council and the countries that invest the heaviest in troops and involvement in the Balkans.
The Contact Group has taken a major interest in the UN-led process to determine the future political status of Kosovo (i.e., whether it should be independent or remain a part of Serbia).
The Contact Group meets regularly with UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, who has been charged with running the future status process.
After the meeting, the Contact Group issued a press statement restating the goal of achieving a negotiated settlement in the course of 2006.
Occasionally, however, the Contact Group meets at the level of Political Director or even Foreign Minister.