text: 45.Support wasexpressed fortheconstructive contribution ofthe Intergovernmental Working GroupofExperts onInternational Standards ofAccounting andReporting. 46.TheCommission considered theproposed workprogramme oftheUnited Nations Centre onTransnational Corporations andthejointunitsestablished withthe regional commissions forthebiennium 1990-1991 (E/C.10/19a9/CRP.1). Whilemany delegations expressed approval oftheproposed individual outputs andtheproposed allocation ofresources fortheirimplementation, theCommission wasunable to -25- reachanagreement for1990-1991. It betakenupbytheontheproposals onpriority designation intheworkprogramme wastherefore agreedthatthequestion ofpriority setting would Committee forProgramme andCo-ordination induecourse. 41.TheCommission wasinformed that,according toGeneral Assembly resolution 42/215, thecurrent medium-term planfortheperiod 1984-1989 hadbeenextended to1991. Thenextmedium-term planwouldcovertheperiod 1992-1991 andwould continue tobetheprincipal policydirective fortheworkoftheUnitedNations. Theattention oftheCommission wasdrnwntothestructure proposed forthe progralilme ontransnational corporations assetoutindocument E/C.10/1909/CRP. 2. Itwasexplained thattheprogramme str.ucture wouldinclude theactivities carried outbytheCentre, andtheregional activities wouldbereflected asappropriate in therespective subprogrammes. Anumberofdelegations stressed thecontinuing validity ofthepriorities inthecurrent medium-term plan.Several delegations requested thattheCentreprepare forthesixteenth session oftheCommission the draftprogramme ontransnational corporations ofthemedium-term planforthe period 1992-1991, takingintoaccount therelevant decisions andresolutions adopted bytheEconomic andSocialCouncil. Several delegations expressed their willingness tocontribute tothepreparation ofthatdraft. 48.TheCommission notedthatthedraftprogramme ontransnational corporations of thenextmedium-term planconsisted ofthreesubprogrammes: (1)Securi.ng an effective codeofconduct andotherinternational arrangements andagreements relating totransnational corporations; (2)Minimizing thenegative effects of transnational corporations andenhancing theircontribution todevelopment; and (3)Strengthening thenegotiating capacity ofdeveloping countries intheir dealings withtransnational corporations. TheCommission alsonotedthatthose subprogrammes werewellintegrated. 49.Onedelegation, supported byseveral others, suggested thatamorefocused agenda beprepared forthenextsession oftheCommission whichwouldeliminate the overlap amongsomeagenda itemswithout removing issuesofvitalconcern to delegations. Theinterconnectedness should beensured between various policy issues andagendaitems. 50.TheCommission reviewed theCentre's recurrent publications basedonthe criteria setforthinGeneral Assembly resolution 38/32E.Manydelegations expressed theopinion thattheCentre's recurrent publications remained validand thattherewasnocaseforeitherterminating or~educing theirvolumeor periodicity ofissuance. TheCommission alsoagreedtoapprove theinclusion in thepublications programme oftwonewrecurrent publications, Readings on Transnational Corporations andtheAnnualReport. 51.Anexpertadviser representing thebusiness community remarked ontheissueof transnational corporations andtheenvironment. HeurgedthattheCommission, in developing environmental standards fortransnational corporations, applythesame standards forallbusiness enterprises whether transnational ornot.Healso suggested thatsuchstandards shouldnotbetoorigid. Another expertadviser recommended thattheCentreassistnational tradeunioncentres instrengthening cheirresearch departments. Heconsidered thattheCentre couldinvolve trade unionsinsomeofitstechnical co-operation activities. 52.Inhisconcluding remarks, theExecutive Director expressed gratitude forthe positive remarks ofdelegations regarding thequality oftheCentre's work. He
analysis: The text appears to be discussing the work of the United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations, which suggests that the topic is related to international business and economics. The mention of environmental standards and the involvement of trade unions in research also points towards a category that encompasses economic development and industry.