text: the Panel expressed the view that it would be valuable if those comments came from a wider range of. countries. It also recommended steps to promote increasinq partiCipatiOn of Member State8 and to provide information about the recommended reporting instrument. 7. The Panel also recommended that a further study should be undertaken of the problems of comparing military expenditures among different States and in different years, as Well as the problem of verification that would arise in connection with aqreements on the reduction of military expenditures. 8. It may be noted that, parallel to the efforts of the series of the above-mentioned .and subsequent expert groups in this field, another activity began at this time within the framework of the Disarmament Commission with a view to considerinq somewhat different aspects of the reduction of military expenditures. At its thirty-fourth session , the General Assembly concluded that a new impetus should be qiven to endeavours to achieve agreements to freeze, reduce or otherwise restrain, in a balanced manner, military expenditures, including adequate measures of verification satisfactory to all Parties concerned. Consequently, since 1980, the Assembly has requested the Disarmament Commission to attempt to identify and work out the principles which should govern the further action of States in the field of freezing and reducing military expenditures, keeping in mind the possibility of embodying such principles into a suitable document at an appropriate stage. / . . . A/40/421 English Page 9 9. At its thirty-fifth session, the General Assembly, in its resolution 35/142 B Of 12 December 1980, took note of the report of the Secretary-General prepared by the Ad Hoc Panel on Military Budgeting (A/35/479, annex) ‘z/ and decided to adopt the system for standardised reporting of military expenditures as tested and recommended by the Panel. Subsequently, the Secretary-General, in annual reports 
analysis: The text appears to be discussing international efforts to reduce military expenditures, with a focus on standardizing reporting and identifying principles for further action. This suggests that the topic is related to international relations, security, and governance, rather than a specific economic or social issue.